Trump Ad Paid by U.S. Government Airs Despite Federal Propaganda Ban
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 24
Trump Ad Paid by U.S. Government Airs Despite Federal Propaganda Ban
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 24
Summary
A pro-Trump television ad carrying the line “Paid for by the U.S. Government” began airing Wednesday on Fox News in Los Angeles and Newsmax in Chicago, according to AdImpact.
The spot mirrors campaign-style ads from Trump’s political operation, using slogan text, Trump speech clips and footage of Dana White praising him over scenes from a June White House lawn event.
Federal appropriations law has barred taxpayer-funded “publicity or propaganda” since the 1950s, and the GAO has said the restriction covers communications that are purely partisan or meant to aid candidates.
Rep. Jamie Raskin said the ad could amount to criminal misuse of government property and also pointed to the Hatch Act; the White House and Trump political representatives did not immediately respond.
The airing appears to have little direct precedent, though the GAO faulted a 2004 Bush-era Medicare video package and Trump’s first administration faced scrutiny over a $250 million coronavirus ad campaign.