# Taxpayer-Funded Pro-Trump 'Love Me' Ad Sparks Legal, Ethics Backlash

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/taxpayer-funded-pro-trump-love-me-ad-sparks-legal-ethics-backlash
- Published: 2026-09-25T19:12:41.878271+00:00
- Topics: trump-administration, government-spending, propaganda, hatch-act, media

## What the left says
- Using taxpayer money to fund what amounts to a glorifying campaign-style video for the sitting president crosses a legal line under laws barring government-funded propaganda, and Representative Raskin's suggestion of felony theft and Hatch Act violations signals potential criminal and ethical exposure for officials involved.
- The ad's content, including RNC campaign footage of Dana White and no genuine public-service message, undermines the White House's claim that it is merely 'educational' and 'not political,' since it functions identically to reelection messaging without a disclosed campaign source.
- Using musician JMSN's song 'Love Me' without permission adds a copyright violation to the list of concerns, reflecting a pattern of the administration disregarding legal and creative rights when promoting the president.
- Airing this ad on taxpayer dime while Trump welcomed China's Xi Jinping the same week, and touting anti-communist rhetoric domestically, is seen as hypocritical optics that critics call outright propaganda.

## What the right says
- The White House frames the ad as a legitimate public service announcement meant to inspire patriotism and appreciation for American values, not to influence any election, noting that Trump is not on the ballot and the ad contains no call to action.
- Government-funded PSAs promoting national pride, security, and anti-communist messaging are consistent with a long history of taxpayer-funded messaging campaigns across administrations.
- Supporters argue that criticizing the ad as illegal 'propaganda' or a Hatch Act violation is a political overreaction, since the ad simply highlights administration accomplishments without soliciting votes or donations.
- Concerns about a hypocritical juxtaposition with hosting Xi Jinping are dismissed as a stretch, since diplomatic engagement with China doesn't conflict with general statements opposing communism as a governing ideology for the U.S.

## Common ground
- The ad cost approximately $14,000 and aired on Fox News and Newsmax, with a second ad also airing on broader networks including CBS.
- The ad carries an on-screen disclosure stating 'Paid for by the U.S. Government.'
- Both sides recognize that questions have been raised about whether JMSN authorized the use of his song 'Love Me' in the ad.
- There is shared interest in clarifying the legal boundaries around using taxpayer funds for messaging that features a sitting president's political achievements.

## Sources
- [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-administrations-campaign-style-ad-fox-news-taxpayer/story?id=136723829) (Lean Left)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-focused-ad-campaign-taxpayers/) (Lean Left)
- [HuffPost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-government-funded-love-me-ad_n_6ab49f98e4b07f4bd795878e) (Left)
- [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/24/us/trump-midterm-election-ad-government-funding.html) (Lean Left)
- [The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/09/trump-ad-white-house-psa/688778/?utm_source=feed) (Lean Left)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/24/ad-boosting-trump-paid-by-taxpayers-airing-la-chicago/) (Lean Left)

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