A US federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order, barring the Trump administration from making or airing taxpayer-funded television adverts for 14 days. The adverts, reportedly paid for with $20 million of Homeland Security funds, have drawn criticism from both parties. The administration has defended the spending, describing the adverts as public service announcements.
The plaintiffs, represented by the nonprofit legal group Democracy Forward, argued that the adverts "exceed the purposes authorized by Congress and violate restrictions on publicity and propaganda". They welcomed the court's swift action, saying it prevents more taxpayer dollars from being used for "blatantly unlawful political propaganda". The White House has used the funds to air adverts featuring Trump, including one with a song saying "Love Me" as he declares "America will never be a communist country".
Another advert showed black-and-white footage of Trump walking down a hallway as he warned of a "final battle", with an onscreen message reading: "Paid for by the US Government". The campaign has drawn criticism from both parties, with Democratic Senator John Hickenlooper calling the adverts "illegal". Some senior Republicans have also voiced reservations about the adverts.
Trump, who is not on the ballot but is campaigning to help Republicans keep control of Congress, said last week that he and his campaign would pay for the adverts. However, the White House later clarified that this post "was not referring to reimbursement". The administration's use of Homeland Security funds for the adverts has raised concerns about the use of taxpayer dollars for political purposes.
US District Judge Jennifer Rochon issued the temporary restraining order, saying "Defendants shall not enter into, renew, or expand any agreement authorizing the development, creation, dissemination, placement, or airing of the challenged advertisements". The order is in effect for 14 days, giving the administration time to respond to the court's concerns.
The White House has defended the adverts, saying they are public service announcements. However, critics argue that they are political propaganda, and the use of taxpayer dollars to fund them is unlawful. The court's decision is a setback for the administration, which had planned to continue airing the adverts in the lead-up to the midterm elections.
The midterm elections are scheduled to take place in November, and the Trump administration's adverts have been seen as an attempt to influence public opinion. The court's decision ensures that taxpayer dollars will not be used to fund the adverts, at least for the next 14 days. The administration may appeal the decision or seek to revise its plans for the adverts.
Key points
- A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to stop running taxpayer-funded ads promoting the president.
- The adverts, reportedly paid for with $20 million of Homeland Security funds, have drawn criticism from both parties.
- The court's decision is a setback for the administration, which had planned to continue airing the adverts in the lead-up to the midterm elections.
