Taxpayer-funded Trump ads draw bipartisan ethics fire before midterms

Taxpayer-funded television ads featuring President Donald Trump are drawing bipartisan criticism and legal questions five weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, according to reporting published late Monday.

Three nationally broadcast spots end with the disclaimer “Paid for by the US Government.” One shows Trump saying “America will never be a communist country” over a chorus singing “love me”; another pairs Mount Rushmore imagery with praise for a “golden age of America”; a third echoes a 2024 campaign ad about a “final battle” against the deep state. Ethics lawyers and lawmakers in both parties question whether public money is being used for political promotion.

Former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter said the campaign likely violates longstanding bans on domestic propaganda and Hatch Act limits on political activity by government employees. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he liked the message but that it should not be paid for with taxpayer dollars. The White House has described the spots as public-service announcements promoting patriotism and has not detailed which agency is paying or how much they cost.