Today, the Democratic National Committee moved for a Temporary Restraining Order against the Trump administration to immediately stop them from using more taxpayer dollars to air blatantly illegal campaign-style TV advertisements.
DNC Spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández released the following statement:
“Donald Trump is stealing from American taxpayers to fund his desperate political ads ahead of the midterms. The DNC asked the court today to put an end to it immediately. Trump has spiked the cost of groceries, gas, and healthcare, and these last-ditch propaganda ads can’t save him from his tanking approval ratings.”
Earlier this week, the DNC sued Trump and his administration, accusing Trump of personally directing this clear violation of the statutory ban on the use of federal funds for political propaganda, and directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to carry out this partisan advertising campaign.
Take a look at some of the coverage below:
In Print:
Washington Post: Democratic National Committee sues to stop taxpayer-funded Trump ads
[Isaac Arnsdorf, 10/7/26]
“The DNC argued that the ads violate Congress’s ban on using government money for ‘publicity and propaganda’ and prohibitions against spending money not authorized by Congress. The Democrats said the ads harm them by violating campaign spending rules and making it harder for their candidates to compete.”
Politico: DNC sues to stop taxpayer-funded Trump ads ahead of midterms
[Jalen Beckford, 10/7/26]
“In the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Washington, the DNC alleges the administration continued airing the ads at government expense even after Trump vowed Monday to use his super PAC, MAGA Inc., to pay for the ads moving forward.
“With less than 30 days remaining before the midterm election and millions of public dollars apportioned to pay for propaganda ads still unspent, the DNC has no choice but to take action in defense of free and fair elections,” the committee wrote in its complaint.”
Reuters: Democrats sue Trump to halt taxpayer-funded TV ads that praised him
[Jan Wolfe and David Shepardson, 10/7/26]
“Democratic Party officials sued US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, seeking a court order blocking his administration from using taxpayer money to pay for election-related TV ads. […]
“Taxpayer-funded television ads glorifying Trump began airing in late September, sparking a bipartisan backlash. […]
“The DNC, the main governing organization of the Democratic Party, said in its lawsuit that the ads continued to air after Trump’s comments.”
NBC News: DNC sues administration over taxpayer-funded pro-Trump TV ads
[Julia Ainsley, Gary Grumbach and Raquel Coronell Uribe, 10/7/26]
“The Democratic National Committee sued the Trump administration Wednesday over its taxpayer-funded advertisements that portray President Donald Trump in a favorable light, alleging the ads violate federal laws on government spending and propaganda. […]
“The ads, launched last month, sparked criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, many of whom questioned their legality.”
Associated Press: Two lawsuits challenge Trump’s taxpayer-funded ads, alleging they violate propaganda law
[Ali Swenson, 10/7/26]
“The Democratic National Committee was first to sue the Republican administration, alleging the ads are illegal government-sponsored propaganda and accusing Trump of personally directing them. […]
“DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement that Trump is misusing taxpayer dollars in ‘a last-ditch attempt to save Republicans in November.’
“‘Americans deserve better than to have their hard-earned tax dollars used for Trump’s illegal schemes,’ he added.”
The Guardian: Democrats sue to stop Trump from using taxpayer funds for self-promoting ads
[Robert Mackey, 10/7/26]
“The Democratic National Committee sued the Trump administration in federal court on Wednesday, asking a judge in Washington DC to stop the president from using taxpayer funds to air a series of ads promoting himself, arguing that the ads are illegal government-sponsored propaganda.
“The ads promoting Donald Trump, including one recycled from his 2024 presidential campaign, have cost taxpayers more than $12m so far, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact.
“Ken Martin, the DNC chair, said in a statement that Trump was misusing taxpayer dollars in ‘a last-ditch attempt to save Republicans in November. Americans deserve better than to have their hard-earned tax dollars used for Trump’s illegal schemes.’”
Fox News: DNC lawsuit accuses Trump admin of diverting $20M in federal funds for ‘propaganda’ ads
[Louis Casiano, 10/7/26]
“‘President Trump’s political propaganda ads are an attempt to resuscitate his historically low approval ratings and avoid widespread Republican defeats in the 2026 midterm election,’ the lawsuit states. ‘The President has nationalized the midterm election, made himself the center of a two-day ‘midterm convention,’ and repeatedly directed voters to ‘pretend that I am on the ballot.’ […]
“The lawsuit highlights mounting pressure on Republicans, noting that polling numbers have dropped in traditional battlegrounds as well as in typically conservative states, which leaves Democrats ‘poised to take control of Congress, governor’s mansions, and state legislatures around the country.’”
On the Airwaves:
On MS NOW’s The Weeknight:
Luke Russert: “The Democratic National Committee just sued the Trump administration, accusing the president of illegally using taxpayer dollars to fund those political propaganda ads. You know, the ones that have popped up during football games, you’re just trying to relax, that said ‘paid for by the U.S. government?’ Yeah, those. The complaint reads in part, ‘This use of congressional appropriations for partisan purposes violates the clear command of federal law. Fundamentally, the ads undermine free and fair elections.’ This comes just after the White House said it has no plans to reimburse the government for more than $10 million in taxpayer funds it has already spent on the ads.”
On Fox News’ Special Report with Brett Baier
Brett Baier: “The Democratic National Committee is suing the Trump administration over recent television advertisements promoting his political message, they say, funded by taxpayers. The complaint alleges that the ads are illegal government-sponsored propaganda. It accuses the president of personally directing them. ”
On CNN’s The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Elex Michaelson: “The Democratic National Committee is suing the Trump administration over its taxpayer-funded TV ads. Its complaint alleges the ads are illegal government-sponsored propaganda personally directed by the president. The ads have already cost 12 million dollars to air. The Department of Homeland Security has allocated 20 million dollars for the campaign. The White House defends the ads as public service announcements like previous administrations have produced, but there’s no ads that quite look like that.”
On Gray News’ Local News Live
Stephen Goin: “This week, the Democratic National Committee [is] filing a lawsuit that alleges the ads were crafted to boost the president and help Republicans in the midterms. Congress has banned spending taxpayer dollars on publicity or propaganda. Dan Freeman is Litigation Director for the DNC.”
Dan Freeman: “These ads are flagrantly illegal, and in the run-up to an election, we thought it was just vital that the Democratic National Committee stand up for free and fair elections, fight back against these autocratic tactics.”
Stephen Goin: “The DNC now asking a federal judge to step in and declare the administration’s actions illegal. The Democrats hoping to immediately block the White House from airing any further ads paid for with taxpayer money.”
On Arizona’s Family [Phoenix, AZ]
Tess Rafols: “The DNC is suing the Trump administration over its controversial campaign-style TV ads. Democrats accuse the White House of illegally using taxpayer money to fund those ads to boost the president’s overall rating. So ads started airing last month costing more than 12 million dollars. ”
On Local 10 [Miami, FL]
Eric Yutzy: “The Democratic National Committee is suing the Trump administration over campaign-style television ads. The DNC said the ads were illegally paid for with taxpayer funds that are being used to boost the president’s approval ratings. The ads began airing last month have already cost more than twelve million dollars.”
On FOX 40 [Sacramento, CA]
Anchor: “In the final stretch to the midterms next month, the Democratic National Committee is suing the White House over its taxpayer-funded television ads promoting President Trump. It features only President Trump and says it was paid for by the U.S. government, which means taxpayers. And now the DNC has filed a lawsuit to block the White House from using more public funds to boost the president’s image before Election Day. President Trump has defended the ads but said that he’d pay for them himself going forward if he needed to. Yet, in the lawsuit, the DNC says that the ads are still airing and claims the Office of Management and Budget shifted 20 million dollars from Customs and Border [Protection] to pay for it.”
