DNC challenges taxpayer-funded Trump administration advertisements
The committee is asking a federal court to rule the television ads illegal and halt their public funding. The administration has defended them as public service announcements.
The Democratic National Committee has sued the Trump administration over federally funded television advertisements, alleging they unlawfully promote President Donald Trump’s political message. The complaint was filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
The DNC wants the court to declare the ads illegal and stop federal funding for them. The allegations have not been ruled on by the court.
The advertisements began airing in September ahead of November’s midterm elections. Media tracking firm AdImpact estimates that more than $12 million has been spent airing them. A separate $20 million in Homeland Security Department funding was reportedly tapped for the campaign.
The White House has defended the spots as public service announcements. Legal experts cited by France 24 have questioned whether the ads serve the public in the way many past government announcements did.
A fifth ad began airing with a “paid for by the US Government” notice and promoted US military actions in Venezuela. Trump said he would use his MAGA Inc. super PAC to fund future ads, but had not committed to reimbursing money already spent.
