Democrats sue US President Trump over taxpayer-funded ad campaign

The Democratic National Committee has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump over a series of television ads paid for with public funds, saying the spots are political propaganda meant to boost Republican prospects ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Later the same day, the watchdog group Common Cause filed a separate complaint making similar claims, arguing the commercials violate laws that bar taxpayer dollars from being used for political publicity. Both legal filings contend the White House redirected $20 million Congress had earmarked for commemorative border-security activities to pay for the ad campaign, a move the plaintiffs say breaches the Constitution’s separation of powers by bypassing Congress’s control over federal spending. The complaints also cite language that Congress routinely inserts in appropriations bills prohibiting the use of public funds for “publicity or propaganda purposes.” Both suits seek court orders to stop further spending on the ads, declare the advertising illegal, and recover money already spent. The advertising campaign began in September and has aired at least three distinct spots, with AdImpact reporting more than $12 million spent so far. One ad reuses imagery and themes similar to material Trump ran during his 2024 re-election campaign; others feature a choir singing over montage footage, celebratory Mount Rushmore imagery, and a darker black-and-white spot framing a confrontation with the “deep state.” A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday found 86% of Americans surveyed — including roughly four in five Republicans — said it was inappropriate to use public money for the ads. The controversy has drawn bipartisan criticism. Some Republican lawmakers said the ads should not be paid for with taxpayer funds even if they agreed with the messages; Senator Thom Tillis said the spots resembled propaganda of foreign strongmen, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune said their content should not be financed by public dollars. The Federal Communications Commission chair, by contrast, said the ads did not raise regulatory concerns. The White House defended the campaign as promotion for the country but, after mounting backlash, said it would not use taxpayer funds for future ads while stopping short of committing to repay money already spent.