Daniel Wolfram
Another day, another ruling that goes against Trump. This time it is a judge in New York who has ordered him to stop his TV ads.
A federal judge in New York has ordered the Trump administration to stop airing partisan television commercials funded by taxpayer money.
Late Sunday night, District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon issued a temporary restraining order. Her decision backed a legal challenge by watchdogs, including the nonpartisan group Common Cause.
“Defendants shall not enter into, renew, or expand any agreement authorizing the development, creation, dissemination, placement, or airing of the challenged advertisements,” Judge Rochon wrote, according to the AP.
Behind the scenes, Justice Department lawyers argued on Saturday that the order was completely unnecessary. They told the court that “the alleged offending conduct will end tomorrow.”
Millions in advertisement
The $20 million Department of Homeland Security advertisement has run on all major TV networks during prime time. Legal experts say that federal law strictly prohibits using congressional funds for publicity or propaganda.
In court papers, senior department official Holly Mehringer defended the spending. She wrote that the funds were designated for “commemorating efforts and events related to border security.”
While the administration has framed the commercials as public service announcements, critics say that they are a propaganda campaign to sow division and further the Trump administration’s policies. The broadcasts did not help citizens access public services. Instead, they focused on political messaging ahead of the midterms.
Growing pushback
The ads have run since September and have included five different TV spots. Topics ranged from anti-communist remarks and old campaign clips to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Pushback has been strong from both sides of the political aisle. “It shouldn’t be paid for with taxpayer dollars,” Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters.
The Democratic National Committee has also filed a separate lawsuit to get the ads off the airwaves.
Trump promises to pay for the ads himself.
Following the backlash, President Trump announced on social media that he would pay for the remaining ads using campaign funds.
“The Radical Left is upset with the fact that I am taking Ads, which I consider to be a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A., and paying for them with U.S.A. money,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I have decided to do the Patriotic Ads, among others, and pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc.”
When pressed about reimbursing the taxpayers for the money already spent on the ads in a press gaggle, Trump went unusually quiet and just said “we’ll decide.” Meanwhile, White House officials confirmed there are no plans to pay back the dollars spent.
