By Rajwa Quasim
The Trump administration is facing scrutiny over a series of television ads featuring President Donald Trump that, according to the ad video credits, are “being paid for with U.S. government funds,” just weeks before the November midterm elections.
The latest 30-second ad, titled “Final Battle,” shows Trump walking through a hallway in black-and-white footage while the audio warns of a fight against the “deep state,” “globalists,” communists, Marxists, fascists and the “fake news media.” It ends with a written note saying, “paid for by the U.S. Government.” The ad aired during NFL games and other television programs over the weekend. It has cost taxpayers more than $362,000 so far, including for a run during “Fox News Sunday.”
The audio said, “With you at my side we will demolish the deep state. We will expel the warmongers from our government. We will drive out the globalists. We will cast out the communists, Marxists and fascists. We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country. We will rout the fake news media, and we will liberate America from these villains once and for all.”
READ: Trump TV launches as White House bars CNN, Politico and MS NOW from press access (September 22, 2026)
Trump posted a similar video in 2024. However, the earlier version included a campaign logo and a message asking viewers to join his political campaign, while the government-funded version removes that call to action and adds a government funding disclaimer.
The White House defended the decision, saying the ads are intended to promote national pride and educate the public. It has argued that Trump is not on the ballot in November, while pointing to government-funded ads under previous presidents, including Joe Biden, Franklin Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. The administration has compared them with public service announcements.
Critics dispute this comparison. Federal law generally bans the use of public funds for political advertising and requires political advertisers to make certain disclosures. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have objected to the ads. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky called the latest ad “ominous.” Republican Sen. John Kennedy, appearing on “Face the Nation,” said rules should bar lawmakers from spending public money to promote themselves.
READ: CNN, MS NOW and Politico sue Trump over White House press ban (September 21, 2026)
AdImpact has now captured three government-funded ads in recent days. One features Trump talking about defeating communism, set to the song “Love Me” by JMSN. It also carried a disclaimer stating that the ad was funded by the government.
The government watchdog group Common Cause also questioned the advertisements. The organization’s President and CEO Virginia Kase Solomón said, “Taxpayer dollars should never be used to bolster the President’s self-esteem because his ego has been damaged.”
Public Citizen, in its complaint to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Office of Special Counsel (OSC), wrote that the ad violates laws governing government expenditures for propaganda purposes, including 5 U.S.C. §3107 and related appropriations laws, as well as the Hatch Act, 5 U.S.C. §7324.
It further argued that the ad does not contain content that informs the public about government actions or decisions. Instead, it makes only fleeting references to government activity, while focusing on Trump’s campaign rhetoric, images and voiceovers promoting the character of Donald Trump.