White House Defends Taxpayer-Funded Advertisements
The White House has spent days defending three taxpayer-funded advertisements promoting President Donald Trump that have cost more than $1.7 million in public spending, calling them public service announcements similar to those used in past administrations.
White House communications director Steven Cheung posted on X on Sunday denying "Fake News" lies about the "epic Public Service Announcements." The advertisements aired in less than a week across network and cable television, including during college football and NFL programming, according to NBC News.
AdImpact, which tracks political ad spending, estimated the spots have cost more than $1.7 million, though actual amounts could be higher depending on network classifications. The White House has not responded to inquiries about which part of the government is supplying the funds for the ads.
Legal Experts Question Statutory Compliance
Multiple legal experts consulted by The Associated Press said the ads appear to violate federal statutes against using appropriated funds for "publicity or propaganda" and limits on partisan political activities by government employees.
Richard Painter, former White House ethics czar under President George W. Bush, called the ads "sheer propaganda" and compared them to tactics used by authoritarian governments to promote their leaders.
NBC News reported that one of the ads is nearly identical to an ad from Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. The White House did not specifically respond to this observation.
Republican Lawmakers Express Concerns
The Republican administration's ads attracted mounting criticism on Monday, including from members of Trump’s own party.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters the ads should not be paid for with taxpayer dollars. "It shouldn't be paid for with taxpayer dollars," Thune said.
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said he would not have used taxpayer dollars for the ads. He noted that while the White House is not covered by the same guidance as Congress, the expenditure was not something he would have done.
The Associated Press noted that with both chambers of Congress led by Republicans, oversight would likely come from Trump's allies, decreasing the likelihood of accountability efforts before November's midterm elections.