An Advertising Campaign Featuring Trump’s Images... Sparks a Wave of Criticism

A television advertising campaign funded by American taxpayers' money, featuring an image of President Donald Trump, has sparked a wave of criticism from both the Republican and Democratic parties, amid legal questions about the use of public funds for political promotion just weeks before the midterm elections, while the White House defended the ads and considered them public service messages to boost national spirit.

The campaign included three ads broadcast across the United States, ending with a statement indicating they were paid for by the U.S. government, and aired during "Saturday Night Live" and during American football league games.

One of the ads featured Trump asserting that America will never be a communist country, while a second ad combined images of Mount Rushmore with footage of Trump praising America's golden age.

The third ad was titled 'The Final Battle' and in it, Trump pledged to dismantle the deep state, according to Reuters.

The 'Final Battle' ad closely resembles one of Trump's campaign ads for the 2024 election, differing only by the disclaimer written at its end.

In this context, Richard Painter, who served as the chief ethics lawyer in the White House during the presidency of George W. Bush and currently works as a law professor at the University of Minnesota, stated that these announcements represent the latest example of Trump's disregard for established rules that prevent presidents from using their positions for political gain. He added that this type of activity should not be funded by the government under federal laws.

Painter also clarified that Washington banned domestic propaganda for the first time in the 1940s in response to the rise of communism in Europe, aiming to ensure that the United States does not adopt an approach favored by authoritarian regimes. He viewed the glorification of the president as a hallmark of political propaganda, especially when coupled with attacks on opponents.

Additionally, Painter and other legal experts considered that the campaign violates the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits government employees from participating in electoral activities while performing their official duties.

David Hopkins, an associate professor of political science at Boston University, stated that the violation seems clear regarding the legal prohibition on using public funds for electoral purposes.

Critics also pointed out that previous allegations of violating the same law during the Trump administration ended in oversight results without real accountability, reflecting the difficulty of imposing sanctions on the White House when it is uncooperative.

The criticisms were not limited to the Democrats, as Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that he was impressed with the content of the message. However, he emphasized that its costs should not be covered by taxpayers' money.

Republican Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana also confirmed during his appearance on CBS Sunday that public money should not be spent on self-promotion, while Democratic Senator Chris Murphy wrote on X that no Republican should be taken seriously from now on when they claim to care about fighting waste, fraud, and abuse.

For his part, Charlie Black, a Republican political consultant who has worked on several presidential campaigns, warned that Trump's insistence on being in the spotlight could backfire on his party, explaining that history shows the party's performance declines whenever the president is unpopular and his presence is more pronounced, while acknowledging that Trump might defy expectations.

In contrast, the White House described the clips on its website last week as public service announcements, asserting that they are not campaign ads, and considering them a reminder to Americans of their love for their country and the reasons it deserves to be defended. The White House did not respond to inquiries about which government entity is funding the campaign, its cost, or the criticisms directed at it.

The U.S. elections are scheduled to take place in early November, which could reshape the balance of power in Washington.