The Democratic National Committee asked a federal judge on Friday for an emergency restraining order to stop the Trump administration from using taxpayer dollars for television ads that praise President Donald Trump.
The committee’s request for a temporary restraining order follows a broader lawsuit it filed Wednesday in federal court in Washington, D.C. In that filing, the DNC alleges the administration violated federal statutes that forbid the use of congressionally appropriated funds for political propaganda and publicity, and claims Trump personally directed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to launch the multi‑million‑dollar broadcast campaign.
Media‑tracking firm AdImpact reports that the TV spots have cost taxpayers more than $12 million since they began airing in late September, while the Department of Homeland Security has earmarked roughly $20 million for the effort overall.
The legal challenge comes less than a month before the midterm elections. The White House defends the spots as routine public‑service announcements produced by government agencies, but critics and lawmakers from both parties have questioned their legality. After early scrutiny, Trump announced that his super PAC, MAGA Inc., would assume payment for the ads. The DNC’s filing, however, argues that public funds continued to be spent on the broadcasts even after that statement.
“Donald Trump is stealing from American taxpayers to fund his desperate political ads ahead of the midterms,” DNC spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández said in a Friday statement. “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.”
Party leaders contend the administration’s actions give Republican candidates an unfair, unlawful advantage heading into November.
“Less than 30 days remain before the midterm election, and millions of public dollars earmarked for propaganda ads are still unspent. The DNC has no choice but to act to protect free and fair elections,” the committee wrote in its complaint.
DNC Chair Ken Martin also slammed the ad campaign, calling the spending “a last‑ditch attempt to save Republicans in November.” He added, “Americans deserve better than to have their hard‑earned tax dollars used for Trump’s illegal schemes.”
Dan Freeman, the DNC’s litigation director, echoed those concerns to Gray News: “These ads are flagrantly illegal, and in the run‑up to an election, it was vital for the Democratic National Committee to stand up for free and fair elections and fight back against these autocratic tactics.”
The White House maintains that the promotional spots meet legal standards and says it has no plans to reimburse the government for the money already spent. A federal judge is expected to consider the emergency restraining order request in the coming days.
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