Trump’s taxpayer-funded ads and $5,000 pledge draw scrutiny
Reported federal spending on advertisements promoting Trump has prompted a complaint to regulators. His promised voter payments would require congressional approval and funding.
Donald Trump has promoted Republican candidates ahead of the US midterm elections through advertisements paid for with public money, while pledging eligible voters $5,000 if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress. The ads and pledge have raised questions about public spending and the limits of presidential authority.
CBS, citing contracting records, reported that the Department of Homeland Security paid an agency $20 million for a “national media campaign”. September advertisements featured Trump and his administration. Trump said future ads would be funded through donations.
Public Citizen filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, arguing the advertisements amounted to prohibited government propaganda or partisan political advertising. The organisation said public funds cannot be used for those purposes. The report describes allegations and expert concerns; it does not cite a ruling that the ads broke the law.
Trump also urged supporters to “pretend” he was on the ballot and pledged $5,000 to each eligible voter if Republicans kept both the House and Senate. The report says such payments would require congressional authorisation and appropriation. It gives no indication that the pledge has been approved or funded.
Voters in the midterms elect members of the House and roughly a third of the Senate, while some states also choose governors. Republicans held narrow majorities in both chambers at the time of the report. A Reuters/Ipsos poll cited by Deutsche Welle found Republican support had weakened among voters aged 50 or older, while approval of Trump stood at 32 per cent.
