Judge orders the Trump administration to cancel taxpayer-funded
promotional TV ads
[October 12, 2026]
By GENE JOHNSON
President Donald Trump must cancel any remaining television commercials
paid for with millions of dollars in taxpayer money to promote his
political message, a federal judge ordered Sunday night, even as the
administration said the ad campaign was coming to an end.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon in New York sided with a
coalition, including the nonpartisan watchdog Common Cause, that
challenged the ads as an illegal misuse of funds. She told the
administration to cancel any remaining ads, including any set to air
Sunday night, in granting a temporary restraining order.
“Defendants shall not enter into, renew, or expand any agreement
authorizing the development, creation, dissemination, placement, or
airing of the challenged advertisements” during the two-week duration of
her order, the judge said.
Asked for comment, the White House referred to an Oct. 5 social media
post from Trump in which he defended the taxpayer-funded ads as “rather
standard” but, amid backlash, said he would pay for them from his
political fundraising. In a court filing late Saturday, the Justice
Department argued that the temporary restraining order was unnecessary
because “the alleged offending conduct will end tomorrow.”
The Department of Homeland Security tapped $20 million in taxpayer money
for the ads. Legal experts have suggested that violated a federal
statute against congressionally appropriated money being used for
“publicity or propaganda” and potentially other laws.
“We are pleased the court acted swiftly to prevent more taxpayer dollars
from being used for such blatantly unlawful political propaganda,” the
plaintiffs said in a statement issued by Democracy Forward, the
nonprofit legal organization that represents them. “There is no legal
justification — and no precedent — for the president to use the
machinery of the government and funds set aside by Congress for other
uses to influence electoral outcomes that further his own agenda.”
In a court declaration Saturday, senior DHS official Holly Mehringer
wrote that the money came from funds appropriated by Congress that are
“available for, among other things, ‘commemorating efforts and events
related to border security.’”
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The White House has defended the ads as public service announcements
akin to what past administrations have done to promote various
policies. But the recent ads differ from many past public service
announcements because they aren’t aimed at helping members of the
public benefit from specific government programs.
The ads, which began airing in late September, glorify Trump and
echo his political messaging going into the midterms. One features a
clip of Trump talking about the threat of communism and another is a
replay of an ad from his last presidential campaign. The fifth ad in
the campaign began airing Tuesday, focusing on the Trump
administration’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
The use of public funds to pay for the ads drew heavy criticism —
including from some in the GOP.
"It shouldn’t be paid for with taxpayer dollars,” Senate Majority
Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters.
The Democratic National Committee has separately sued the Republican
administration over the ads.
Amid the backlash, Trump said he would start paying for the ads with
a campaign account. A White House official said there were no
immediate plans to reimburse the government for money already spent.
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Associated Press reporters Collin Binkley and Ali Swenson
contributed.
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