Judge Blocks Taxpayer-Funded Trump Ads

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to stop any remaining television advertisements paid for with taxpayer money to promote the president’s political message. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon, sitting in New York, granted a temporary restraining order Sunday night after siding with a coalition that included the non-partisan watchdog Common Cause. The order applies for two weeks and bars the administration from entering into, renewing or expanding agreements to develop, create, distribute, place or air the challenged ads. It also directs officials to cancel ads that were still scheduled to run Sunday night. The Justice Department had argued in a court filing late Saturday that an order was unnecessary because the alleged conduct would end the following day. The administration had said the ad campaign was coming to an end, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment after the judge’s order. The Department of Homeland Security used $20 million US in taxpayer funds for the advertisements. That money came from a $175-million package Congress provided to the department for Trump’s immigration-enforcement agenda. The coalition challenging the campaign says the ads amount to an illegal use of government funds. Legal experts have suggested they may violate a federal law prohibiting the use of congressionally appropriated funds for “publicity or propaganda,” as well as other federal laws. The White House has defended the commercials as public service announcements, comparing them with messages used by previous administrations to promote policies. The article notes, however, that the ads differ from many earlier public service announcements because they do not appear designed to help the public access or benefit from a specific government program. One advertisement is described as nearly identical to a 2024 commercial Trump ran during his re-election campaign.

A federal judge in Manhattan ordered the Trump administration to stop airing taxpayer-funded television ads featuring President Donald Trump and barred the Department of Homeland Security from spending additional money on the campaign. Judge Jennifer Rochon issued a 14-day temporary restraining order on Sunday, directing the administration to cancel scheduled ads and preventing new or expanded agreements. The campaign had a $20 million allocation, about $19 million of which had already been spent. The funding came from a congressional appropriation for immigration enforcement. The order followed a lawsuit filed on October 7 by a coalition that includes Common Cause and Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ. The coalition argued that the ads used appropriated funds for unlawful political propaganda and sought an order even after government lawyers said the ads would stop airing after Sunday. Rochon found that the request was not moot, rejected the Justice Department’s challenge to the coalition’s legal standing, and said the plaintiffs were likely to prevail, faced irreparable harm without relief, and served the public interest by seeking an injunction. She also stayed a purchase order between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and contractor Lepugh Inc., doing business as LMD Agency Inc. A full opinion is expected. The ads, including one titled “The Country He Loves,” featured Trump and touted claimed accomplishments, while also displaying the message “AMERICA WILL NEVER BE A COMMUNIST COUNTRY.” Critics, including Sen. Maggie Hassan, said the campaign lacked a clear government purpose and could violate restrictions on using public funds to aid a political party or candidates. Democrats argued the ads could benefit Republicans in the November midterm elections. The Democratic National Committee filed a separate lawsuit challenging them. Trump said on October 5 that he or his super PAC, MAGA Inc., would pay for future ads, but the White House said he would not reimburse the government for ads already aired. The plaintiffs welcomed the court’s order, calling the spending unlawful political propaganda.

A federal judge in New York has temporarily barred the Trump administration from entering into, renewing, or expanding agreements to produce or air television advertisements promoting President Donald Trump, even as the administration said the campaign was about to end. The two-week restraining order was issued by District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon, who agreed with a coalition of plaintiffs that the advertisements constituted an illegal use of government funds. The Department of Homeland Security had allocated $20 million in taxpayer money for the ads. They began airing in late September and showed Trump promoting his policies while warning about communism and a “final battle” against “globalists.” Each commercial included a disclaimer stating that it had been paid for by the US government. Legal experts have argued that the spending may violate a federal law prohibiting the use of congressionally appropriated funds for “publicity or propaganda,” as well as other laws. The Justice Department argued in a Saturday court filing that an order was unnecessary because the alleged conduct would end the following day. The judge nevertheless ordered the halt. Trump had described the commercials as “rather standard” and a “positive promotion for our great USA,” while saying they would no longer be paid for by taxpayers. The White House said his political action committee would cover future ads, but would not reimburse the government for advertisements already aired. The plaintiffs include the nonpartisan watchdog Common Cause, a public employee union, and a candidate for Alabama state representative. They argued that using government resources to influence electoral outcomes for the president’s own agenda has no legal justification or precedent. Common Cause president and CEO Virginia Kase Solomon said the group would continue seeking accountability and an end to taxpayer-funded propaganda. The plaintiffs had asked the judge to block the ads before weekend programming, including football games and “Saturday Night Live.” Separately, Democrats have challenged the advertisements in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington.

A Manhattan federal judge has temporarily barred the Trump administration from using taxpayer funds for television advertisements featuring President Donald Trump. The ads began airing in late September and were criticized as political propaganda intended to benefit Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, rather than as public service announcements. Watchdog group Common Cause, a public employee union and a candidate for Alabama state representative were among the plaintiffs who sued. They asked the court to block the ads before October 16, so they could not run during weekend broadcasts such as football games and Saturday Night Live. Judge Jennifer Rochon issued the temporary order on October 11. The administration had already said it planned to stop running the ads, according to a court filing submitted the previous day. Common Cause president and chief executive Virginia Kase Solomon said her organization would continue seeking accountability and preventing presidents from misusing taxpayer money for political propaganda. Trump described the advertisements as a “positive promotion” for the United States, while saying they would no longer be funded by taxpayers. The White House said his political action committee, MAGA PAC, would fund them going forward, but would not reimburse taxpayers for the ads that had already aired. The advertisements carried a disclaimer stating that they were paid for by the US government. The Justice Department did not immediately comment on the judge’s order. Democratic Party officials separately challenged the advertisements in a lawsuit in federal court in Washington. The ruling comes amid controversy over publicly funded political messaging in the weeks before the midterm elections.