# Taxpayer-Funded Pro-Trump Ad Draws Bipartisan Backlash

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/taxpayer-funded-pro-trump-ad-draws-bipartisan-backlash
- Published: 2026-09-26T07:12:45.143158+00:00
- Topics: trump-administration, political-advertising, government-spending, midterms-2026, hatch-act

## What the left says
- The ad uses government funds to run what is functionally a partisan campaign spot, featuring Trump's own voice attacking 'Dumocrat communists' and praise from a political supporter, unlike genuinely nonpartisan PSAs from past administrations.
- Legal experts and lawmakers like Rep. Jamie Raskin argue this may violate federal anti-propaganda laws, the Hatch Act, and ethics rules barring use of government resources for campaign purposes ahead of the midterms.
- The musician JMSN says his song was used without authorization, adding to concerns about the ad's legitimacy and the administration's disregard for normal rules.
- Watchdog groups like Public Citizen have filed formal complaints, framing this as taxpayer money being diverted to boost one party's electoral prospects.

## What the right says
- The White House maintains the ad is a standard public service announcement encouraging patriotism, comparable to past presidential PSAs on vaccines or fitness.
- Officials argue the message is educational, not a campaign ad, since Trump is not on the ballot and the spot includes no explicit call to vote for anyone.
- Supporters see the ad's anti-communism and pro-America themes as unobjectionable values that any president should be free to promote.
- Some Republicans, like Sen. Thom Tillis, have joined in criticizing the spot's tone, showing that concern about appropriateness cuts across party lines rather than being purely a partisan attack.

## Common ground
- The ad cost has risen from an initial $14,000 to at least $430,000–$443,000 in taxpayer-funded airtime.
- The ad aired on Fox News and other networks featuring Trump's voice pledging to 'defeat communism, socialism and Marxism' with a musical backdrop from JMSN's 'Love Me.'
- Both Democrats and some Republicans, including Sen. Thom Tillis, have publicly criticized the ad's use of public funds.
- The White House has responded to the controversy by defending the ad as a nonpartisan public service announcement rather than a campaign ad.

## Sources
- [Mother Jones](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/trump-ad-white-house-psa-midterm-republican-love-me-public-funds/) (Left)
- [Salon](https://www.salon.com/2026/09/25/pro-trump-love-me-ads-paid-for-by-taxpayers/) (Left)
- [The Guardian US](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/25/white-house-pro-trump-ad-fox) (Left)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6112568-white-house-defends-trump-ads-midterms/) (Center)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6110237-trump-government-ad-criticism/) (Center)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/24/ad-boosting-trump-paid-by-taxpayers-airing-la-chicago/) (Lean Left)
- [Washington Times](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/25/taxpayer-funded-pro-trump-tv-ad-campaign-growing-new-spot-wider-reach/) (Right)

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