DNC Sues Trump, White House to Block Taxpayer-Funded Ads

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) filed suit against President Donald Trump and the White House on Oct. 7 over the use of taxpayer funds to pay for several ads televised nationally, alleging that they violate federal budget rules.

The Democrats are asking a District of Columbia district court to declare that the president and White House acted unlawfully and outside their authority by developing and airing the “purely partisan, political propaganda” ads and paying for them with congressionally appropriated funds.

DNC Chair Ken Martin claimed that the ads were “a last-ditch attempt to save Republicans” before the midterm elections.

The White House declined to comment on the lawsuit on Oct. 7.

Trump addressed the controversy over the ads on Oct. 6 in a Truth Social post, saying that he considered the ads to be “patriotic ads” for the country.

“The Radical Left is upset with the fact that I am taking Ads, which I consider to be a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A., and paying for them with U.S.A. money,” Trump said in the post.

The president said he would pay for the ads using his own money and funds from the MAGA Inc. political action committee.

On Oct. 6, the fifth ad began airing with a notice “paid for by the U.S. Government,” highlighting the Venezuela operation in January.

The “Final Battle” ad aired during a national broadcast of “Dancing with the Stars” on ABC and Disney+, the lawsuit claims. It aired again on the morning of Oct. 7 during Fox and Friends with the same disclosure statement, the lawsuit alleges.

The DNC claims that at least $100,000 in public funds have been spent on the ads since Trump announced that he would fund the ads going forward. The Democratic Party alleges in the lawsuit that Trump, the White House, and other agencies are paying for the ads to preserve MAGA Inc. funds for Republican candidates.

Democratic members of Congress began asking questions about the ads in September when they started airing.

The White House stated on Sept. 25 that the ads are clearly disclosed, non-partisan public service announcements, similar to those run in the past by administrations from both parties. Elected presidents have used the ads to explain their policies and promote their visions for the nation.

“The announcements are very clearly not campaign ads; President Trump is not on the ballot and there is no call to action,” the White House stated. “Instead, the announcements are a reminder for Americans to love their country and know why it’s worth defending—at home, at the border, and abroad.”

The ads have cost more than $12 million, according to the political advertising tracker AdImpact.

The Department of Homeland Security, named in the lawsuit, set aside $20 million for the advertisements from a budget appropriations bill, congressional members of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security found.