Democrats sue US President Trump over taxpayer-funded ad campaign | Donald Trump News
Democratic National Committee Files Lawsuit Against Trump Over Advertising Practices
The Democratic National Committee has initiated legal action against President Donald Trump, alleging that his recent televised advertisements, funded by taxpayer dollars, serve to promote his political agenda.
Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic Party’s leadership, stated on Wednesday that the advertisements were intended to strengthen Republican prospects ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
“Donald Trump is misusing millions of taxpayer dollars to fund pure propaganda ads in a last-ditch attempt to save Republicans in November,” Martin said.
In a related development, Common Cause, a nonpartisan watchdog organization, filed a second lawsuit concerning the same advertisements later that day. The group contends that the ads are “overtly political” and violate regulations that prohibit the use of public funds for political propaganda.
“These ads are not public-service announcements,” Common Cause asserted in its lawsuit, referencing Trump’s justification for the commercials. “They are personal publicity and political propaganda through and through.”
Both lawsuits claim that Trump instructed the White House to reallocate $20 million in funds designated by Congress for commemorative activities related to border security, including memorials for those who lost their lives in the line of duty. The lawsuits further argue that this action infringes upon the separation of powers established by the U.S. Constitution.
“The founders made clear more than 200 years ago that the executive can spend money only according to Congress’s direction,” noted Common Cause’s lawsuit.
The lawsuits also highlight a provision included in congressional appropriation bills that prohibits the use of taxpayer funds for “publicity or propaganda purposes.” They seek a court ruling to declare the advertisements illegal, to halt their funding, and to recover any expenditures already made.
The Democratic National Committee’s lawsuit is filed in Washington, D.C., while the Common Cause complaint will be adjudicated in the Southern District of New York.
Trump has come under increasing scrutiny over the advertisements, which began airing in September. According to media tracking firm AdImpact, the campaign has already incurred over $12 million in expenses. The $20 million directed toward the ads is part of a $175 million allocation Congress approved for the Department of Homeland Security in connection with Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.
Critics have pointed out similarities between one of the new ads and a television spot used during Trump’s re-election campaign in 2024. Three advertisements have been released thus far. One features a choir singing “love me” alongside a montage of Trump asserting that the U.S. will “never be a communist country.” Another ad showcases images of Mount Rushmore as Trump heralds a new “golden age of America.” The third ad presents a darker tone, depicting Trump in black and white as he warns of a “final battle” against the “deep state” and other perceived adversaries.
A recent poll conducted by Reuters and Ipsos revealed widespread discontent with the ads, with approximately 86 percent of respondents—including four out of five Republicans—considering it inappropriate for Trump to use public funds for such purposes.
In defense of the advertisements, Trump described them as “promotion for the country,” arguing they are similar to outreach campaigns conducted by previous administrations. However, in response to bipartisan criticism, he announced on Monday that he plans to fund future advertisements personally rather than relying on taxpayer dollars, although he did not address whether he would reimburse the costs of the existing ads.
Members of the Republican Party have also voiced disapproval of the advertising campaign. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina remarked that the advertisements resembled those produced by former Hungarian leader Viktor Orban. Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged his agreement with the message conveyed in one of the ads but emphasized that it should not have been funded with taxpayer money.
