Democrats sue US President Trump over taxpayer-funded ad campaign

United States President Donald Trump is facing two separate federal lawsuits over television commercials funded by taxpayer money, which opponents claim unlawfully promote his personal political platform ahead of the midterm elections.

The Democratic National Committee initiated legal action on Wednesday in Washington, DC, arguing that public resources are being unconstitutionally exploited for partisan advantage. Ken Martin, the committee leader, asserted in a statement that Trump is misdirecting public money to run propaganda spots aimed at helping Republicans in the upcoming November 3 vote. Hours later, the government watchdog organization Common Cause submitted a corresponding lawsuit in the Southern District of New York, contending that the broadcasts serve as overt personal and political promotion rather than legitimate public-service messages.

Both legal challenges focus on the White House's decision to reallocate $20 million that lawmakers had approved for border security commemorative events, including honoring personnel killed in the line of duty. That sum was drawn from a broader $175 million allocation designated for the Department of Homeland Security. The lawsuits claim the redirection of funds infringes upon constitutional separation-of-powers rules restricting executive spending to congressional directives, while also breaching statutory bans on using public appropriations for political propaganda. The plaintiffs are asking the courts to rule the campaign unlawful, halt any further spending, and order the recovery of disbursed funds.

According to data compiled by tracking organization AdImpact, more than $12 million has already been expended on the commercials, which started broadcasting in September. Three distinct segments have appeared on television so far. One spot features a choir singing while Trump states that the nation will reject communism, mirroring material previously used during his 2024 campaign. Another incorporates scenes of Mount Rushmore alongside proclamations of an American golden age, while a third black-and-white broadcast shows the president issuing warnings about a confrontation against the deep state.

The media campaign has triggered significant political and public resistance. A poll released Wednesday by Reuters and Ipsos indicated that 86 percent of respondents considered utilizing taxpayer financing for such ads improper, a view shared by four out of five Republicans surveyed. Several prominent Republican lawmakers have also voiced displeasure, including North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, who likened the style to foreign state messaging, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who stated that public financing should not have been used regardless of agreement with the commercial's themes.

Trump has publicly stood by the effort, framing the broadcasts as country promotion akin to informational campaigns conducted by earlier administrations. Nevertheless, amid bipartisan disapproval, he stated on Monday that public financing would not fund upcoming spots, though he stopped short of offering to reimburse the money previously spent.