We and our partners do the following data processing based on your consent: store and/or access information on a device, personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development DNC sues Trump administration over taxpayer-funded TV ads promoting president The Democratic National Committee sued President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday over taxpayer-funded television ads promoting his political message, alleging illegal government propaganda. The lawsuit seeks to halt federal funding for the ads, which have cost more than $12 million to air ahead of November’s midterm elections, according to AdImpact. Donald Trump's shadow as he leaves a campaign rally in Oklahoma, October 1, 2026 © Kent NISHIMURA, The DemocraticNational Committee on Wednesday sued PresidentDonald Trump’s administration for recent television advertisements that promoted his political message while costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that the ads are illegal government-sponsored propaganda and accuses Trump of personally directing them. It asks the court to declare the ads illegal and stop the use of federal funds to pay for them. Trump has faced bipartisan backlash for the ads, which glorify him and echo his campaign pitch as voters cast early ballots with the midterm electionsless than a month away.
The spots, which began airing in September, already have cost more than $12 million to run, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact, and a total of $20 million in Homeland Security Department funding has been tapped to pay for them. Responding Monday to the criticism, Trump defended the ads as “positive promotion for our Great USA” but said he’d pay for them using his MAGA Inc. super PAC going forward. Read moreTrump targets tax-free diesel as Republicans approach midterms But on Tuesday, the fifth ad in the campaign began airing with the notice “paid for by the US Government,” promoting Trump’s military actions in Venezuela earlier this year.
The same day, Trump made it clear he hasn’t committed to reimbursing any money that has already been spent, telling reporters “we’ll decide.” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement that Trump is misusing taxpayer dollars in “a last-ditch attempt to save Republicans in November.” “Americans deserve better than to have their hard-earned tax dollars used for Trump’s illegal schemes," he added. Legal experts have suggested the ads run afoul of a federal statute against congressionally appropriated money being used for “publicity or propaganda,” and potentially other federal laws. The Homeland Security money tapped for the ads comes from a $175 million package Congress gave to the department as part of Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.
The White House has defended the ads as public service announcements akin to what past administrations have done to promote various policies. Legal experts have said the recent ads differ from many past public service announcements because they aren’t aimed at helping members of the public benefit from specific government programs. The defendants in the lawsuit — Trump, the White House, DHS and the Office of Management and Budget — didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
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