The White House is airing a 2024 Trump campaign ad as a government-funded public service announcement, drawing criticism from ethics experts who say taxpayer-funded propaganda may violate federal law. AdImpact estimated more than $70,000 in ad buys for the spot.
The solemn black-and-white ad features Trump criticizing the “deep state” and vowing to expel “warmongers” from government. The White House says the spots are public service announcements meant to remind Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending at home, at the borders and abroad; it also says there is no “call to action.”
Norm Eisen, a former special counsel to Barack Obama, said the ad openly repurposed prior political conduct. Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush, said using federal funds could be an “abuse of power” and an impeachable offense. Four Democratic members of Congress demanded the ads be taken down and asked for information on their production and running costs.
