Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. It seems that millions of taxpayer dollars have already been spent on President Donald Trump’s ads, which some are calling hagiographic. I mean, who doesn’t love a good ego boost, right? According to estimates by a leading political ad-tracking firm, a total of $20 million has been allocated for the effort, which watchdog groups have deemed illegal. Because, you know, using taxpayer funds for propaganda is totally not a thing.
The TV airtime for the three different Trump ads has cost at least $2.5 million to date, the ad-tracking firm AdImpact told CNN. I’m no math expert, but that’s a lot of cash. And the actual cost of the taxpayer-funded ad campaign is even higher, but can’t be fully ascertained. Because, of course, transparency is overrated.
The money for these ads is coming from Customs and Border Protection, or CBP for short, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN. Bless their hearts. Earlier this month, the White House Office of Management and Budget, led by Russell Vought, allocated $20 million to CBP for what it called “OBBBA commemorative events.” I’m not sure what’s more confusing, the acronym or the fact that they’re using taxpayer dollars for this.
Shortly after the $20 million was allocated, CBP contracted an advertising company, LMD Agency Inc., for a national media campaign in the same dollar amount. Days later, the ads began to appear on national television, two additional sources told CNN. You can’t make this stuff up. The ads have aired on Fox News and the big four broadcast networks, because who doesn’t love a good game of football with a side of propaganda?
About 30% of the ad spend has been dedicated to NFL and college football games, according to the firm’s research. Because, you know, sports fans are the perfect target audience for political ads. The ads have also appeared during shows like ABC’s “The View,” CBS’s “Elsbeth” and NBC’s “The Weakest Link.” I’m not sure what’s more surprising, the fact that they’re airing during these shows or that someone actually watches them.
The ads “appear to violate the federal law against using taxpayer funds to finance propaganda and related provisions of the appropriations laws as well as the Hatch Act,” Public Citizen co-presidents Robert Weissman and Lisa Gilbert and the group’s lobbyist, Craig Holman, wrote in a complaint to the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission. Yeah, no kidding. It’s unclear whether any outside groups have the legal standing to sue the Trump administration over the ads, but I’m sure someone will try.
And while lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have questioned their legality, Republicans — who currently control both the House and the Senate — have not acted. Because, you know, partisan politics is more important than doing what’s right. The Wall Street Journal first reported where the money came from, and I’m sure they’re just thrilled to be a part of this whole mess.
Following the taxpayer money is like playing a game of follow the leader, except the leader is a giant pile of cash with a bad haircut. AdImpact’s analysis for CNN found 2,766 total ad airings between September 23 and 29. The text “Paid for by the US Government” is seen on screen at the end of each of the three ads, including one repurposed version of an ad from Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Yeah, because that’s not misleading at all.
Public Citizen argued in its FCC and FTC complaint that the Trump ads “do not refer to any specific governmental program and they do not serve the purpose of informing the public about any specific governmental program.” No kidding. The ads were created in-house by the White House video team, two Trump advisers told CNN, and were personally driven by the president, who was involved in the selection of imagery and videos used, according to a separate source. Because, of course, the president has nothing better to do with his time.
The question on everyone’s mind is, who will enforce the rules? Well, it’s not like the FCC is going to do anything about it. On Tuesday, Public Citizen warned that TV stations could theoretically lose their broadcast licenses for knowingly airing the ads. But let’s be real, that’s not going to happen. The track record of Trump’s FCC shows the agency won’t try to penalize a station for running pro-Trump content.
Propaganda hasn’t been defined in US law, but the Government Accountability Office has identified three categories, including “self-aggrandizement” or “puffery.” Yeah, that sounds about right. The most immediate check on this kind of behavior is supposed to be Congress, but they’re not exactly known for their backbone. GOP lawmakers may be hesitant to provide accountability because the ads “are designed to boost Republicans in Congress.” You don’t say.
In conclusion, it’s just another day in the world of politics, where taxpayer dollars are used for propaganda and no one seems to care. The ads will continue to air, and we’ll all just sit here and watch as our tax dollars are used to boost the president’s ego. Ah, the joys of democracy. And on that note, I’m going to go refill my coffee cup, because this story has left me feeling like I need a caffeine boost to deal with the absurdity of it all. 🙄
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
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