Donald Trump’s administration has been sued by the Democratic National Committee over government-funded television ads that cast the president in a flattering light. The DNC filed the complaint on Wednesday, arguing the spots break federal spending and propaganda laws.
DNC sues Donald Trump administration over taxpayer-funded ads
The party pointed to a measure Trump signed into law this year. It says money appropriated by Congress can’t be used “for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States not heretofore authorized by Congress.” The suit also invoked the Anti-Deficiency Act. It bars spending money Congress hasn’t appropriated, and the Purpose Statute, which limits taxpayer funds to uses Congress has approved .
The DNC calls the spots “campaign-style advertisements.” It says they deprive Democrats “of a fair electoral process by adding public funds to the resources available to support Republican candidates.” That, the party argues, leaves Democratic candidates at an electoral disadvantage.
Additionally, watchdog group Common Cause has filed its own suit, making similar arguments that the administration violated appropriations statutes. The Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget are named as defendants alongside Trump and the White House.
For those unaware, the ads launched last month. They got criticised by lawmakers in both parties, many of whom questioned their legality. On Monday, Trump announced on Truth Social that he and his PAC, MAGA Inc., would pay for the ads going forward. He did not say whether the government would be reimbursed for spots already aired. By Tuesday, White House officials told Politico the pledge applied only to future ads.
Some ads have kept running with a disclaimer saying the U.S. government paid for them. The White House wouldn’t tell NBC News whether those were bought before or after Trump’s pledge. A person familiar with the buy said it ends this week, after which outside groups will cover the cost.
