Trump basically admits his ads were propaganda all along
Trump basically admits it was propaganda all along
- Fri, Oct 9 at 10:35 AM
Mark,
Donald Trump is using your tax dollars to run political propaganda—and calling it a “public service announcement.”
Since September 23, Trump’s administration has spent millions on television ads that promote his political agenda, rail against “communism,” and, in one particularly bizarre spot, show Trump’s image over a choir singing “love me.”
They conclude with text saying: “paid for by the U.S. government.”
We know that DHS already spent $12 million airing the ads, and that Congress actually allocated that money for border security upgrades, combatting drug trafficking and memorials for officers killed on duty.
Let’s be clear: Federal law prohibits the use of federal funds for partisan political messaging and propaganda. So, yes, these ads are illegal.
That’s why CREW filed a complaint urging the DHS Office of Inspector General to investigate whether taxpayer money appropriated for DHS operations illegally funded partisan propaganda and hold any parties involved in misusing those funds accountable.Since the Trump administration started airing these ads, the backlash has been widespread—including from members of Congress in both parties.
CREW has also been sounding the alarm. I spoke to CNN, ABC and The Atlantic to make one thing clear: while Americans are struggling to afford everyday necessities, the president is illegally using taxpayer-funded government resources to promote political messaging.
And, Mark, the pressure is working.
Earlier this week, Trump said that he'll have his super PAC pay to run the rest of his self-promotional ads instead of sticking taxpayers with the rest of the bill.
That's ALSO illegal—and basically admits it was propaganda all along!
The damage has already been done. Trump’s super PAC cannot legally reimburse the government for the ads that already ran.
Meanwhile, as of Wednesday the ads were still running, apparently still paid for by taxpayers.
Federal funds are appropriated for public purposes—not to promote a president’s political agenda. The DHS Inspector General must investigate whether these funds were used unlawfully and take appropriate action if they were.
It’s clear the Trump admin is feeling the pressure we’ve been putting on, but we need to keep demanding accountability for this and for other abuses of government resources—like rampant Hatch Act violations by administration officials in the lead up to the midterms.
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