A 30-second television advertisement funded by U.S. taxpayers and featuring President Trump's voice is drawing bipartisan criticism weeks before the midterm elections, with Democrats accusing the administration of breaking federal law and some Republicans calling the move inappropriate.
The commercial features Trump saying, "Together we will defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America," and "America will never be a communist country." It shows quick clips of Trump alongside claims about "the largest tax cuts in history," efforts to "reignite American manufacturing" and initiatives to "defend law and order and police." UFC President Dana White appears in the ad calling Trump "the toughest, most resilient person that I've ever met." The ad concludes with text stating it was "paid for by the U.S. Government."
Representative Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, said the ad violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from using government resources for political purposes. "This may be felony criminal theft and conversion of government property for political campaign purposes," Raskin wrote on X, calling it a violation "for any government employees who worked on it or used government resources to make it."
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a Republican, called the ad "inappropriate" and compared it to actions by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. "Using taxpayer dollars, it feels like Viktor Orbán," Tillis told reporters. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, also a Republican, said he had not seen the ad but opposed politicians spending public money on campaign advertisements.
The White House defended the commercial as "clearly not political," noting that Trump is not on the ballot in November and the ads do not include a call to action. A White House official said the public service announcements aim "to remind Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending, at home, at our borders, and abroad," describing them as "educational and unapologetically patriotic."
The ad cost $14,000 and began airing Wednesday night on Fox News and Newsmax.
Christian Berishaj, the musician whose song "Love Me" plays in the ad, said Thursday he never authorized its use. "It should go without saying that I would never authorize my music to be used for ANY political agenda or campaign," he said.
