DNC sues Trump administration over taxpayer-funded television ads
publishers 76articles 114first reported 25 Sep, 03:28 UTCdeveloping since 25 Sep · 24 editions
The Democratic National Committee sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over television advertisements featuring President Donald Trump and paid for by the federal government, alleging that the campaign violates restrictions on using public funds for partisan propaganda.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks to stop federal money from being used to develop, produce and air the advertisements ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The DNC argues that the ads promote Trump and support Republican electoral prospects, while the administration says they are legitimate public service announcements similar to government-funded campaigns under previous presidents.
The advertising campaign has a reported $20 million budget using funds redirected from the Department of Homeland Security. AdImpact estimated that nearly $12 million in ads had aired by Wednesday. The spots praise what the administration calls a new “golden age of America,” and each states that it was paid for by the U.S. government.
Trump said Monday that future advertisements would instead be financed by him and MAGA Inc., his political action committee. The White House said Tuesday that taxpayers would not be reimbursed for ads already aired, though Trump later told reporters that a decision on reimbursement would be made.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 86% of Americans, including four in five Republicans, considered it inappropriate to use public funds for election-related television advertisements featuring Trump or members of his Cabinet.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 180 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 76
- Source articles
- 114
- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 180 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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