Trump Dipping into the Public Dole to Pay for Campaign Ads
“This is legal – in banana republics.” – Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)
By Craig Holman, Ph.D.
This is getting out of control, while the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) slowly ponders whether to take action. Taxpayers are now footing three separate campaign ads by President Donald Trump and his White House staff airing on TV networks across the nation. The latest taxpayer-funded campaign ad dominated the airwaves of football games over last weekend.
This campaign ad by Trump is every bit as brazen a violation of the federal law against using taxpayer funds to finance propaganda (5 U.S.C. §3107) and related provisions of the appropriations laws as well as the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §7324). Entitled “Final Battle,” the ad doesn’t even mention a pending government action. It simply tries to stir up hysteria among voters and depicts Trump as a great hero working to save the nation from grave threats.
In dead serious black-and-white footage Trump is seen marching down a corridor with a stern look, while the audio blares: “This is the final battle. With you at my side, we will demolish the deep state. We will expel the warmongers from our government.” A notice at the bottom of the screen announces: “Paid for by the U.S. government.” The advertisement was seen on Saturday Night Live, Fox News Sunday and several college and NFL football games this weekend. It is almost identical to a 2024 campaign ad paid for by Trump’s campaign committees, except this one is paid for by taxpayers.
Like the other previous two campaign advertisements Trump and the White House are billing to taxpayers, these ads are designed to boost the character of Donald Trump, generally void of any legitimate government purpose, target the voting public shortly before the 2026 midterm elections, and constitute violations of the law against using government resources for propaganda purposes and the Hatch Act.
Public Citizen filed a complaint on September 25, 2026, with the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Special Counsel following the first taxpayer-funded ad that appears to violate the laws against using government funds for propaganda and violations of the Hatch Act for the conduct of partisan political activity by the White House staff.
So, Public Citizen is once again writing your offices requesting an investigation into who produced these ads and at what cost to taxpayers, and to take appropriate remedial actions to enforce the federal law against using taxpayer funds to finance propaganda (5 U.S.C. §3107) and related provisions of the appropriations laws as well as the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §7324).
These ads are campaign advertisements, which should be produced and distributed on campaign time and without involving taxpayer dollars.
Sincerely,
| Robert Weissman Co-President Public Citizen 1600 20th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 588-1000 |
Lisa Gilbert Co-President Public Citizen 1600 20th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 588-1000 |
Craig Holman, Ph.D. Government affairs lobbyist Public Citizen 215 Pennsylvania Ave, SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 454-5187 |