“It's a great message. I like the message. But it shouldn't be paid for with taxpayer dollars.
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Six Weeks Before the Midterms, a 30-Second Ad "Paid for by the U.S. Government" Runs on Fox News and Newsmax With Trump Declaring "America Will Never Be a Communist Country" Over the Song "Love Me" — the White House Calls It "Educational and Unapologetically Patriotic," Jamie Raskin Says It "May Be Felony Criminal Theft," and Maggie Hassan Says It "Does Not Have a Clear Official Government Purpose"
September 25, 2026
In late September 2026, a 30-second spot carrying the disclosure "Paid for by the U.S. Government" began airing repeatedly on Fox News and Newsmax. Set to JMSN's song "Love Me," it shows Trump saying "Together we will defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America. America will never be a communist country," flashes "LARGEST TAX CUTS IN HISTORY," "REIGNITING AMERICAN MANUFACTURING" and "DEFEND LAW AND ORDER AND POLICE," and includes UFC CEO Dana White calling Trump "the toughest, most resilient person I've ever met." AdImpact put the initial buy at about $14,000; ABC News reported the Department of Homeland Security paid for it. The White House called the spots "public service announcements" that are "educational and unapologetically patriotic," arguing "The President is not on the ballot and the ads don't have a call to action." On Sept. 24, Sen. Maggie Hassan, ranking Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, wrote to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles demanding the cost, funding source and government purpose of the ad by Oct. 8, and Rep. Jamie Raskin said it may violate the Hatch Act and federal theft statutes. Federal appropriations law bars agencies from spending on unauthorized publicity or propaganda.
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“[Asked whether using public funds for the ads was appropriate:] No, it's not even a close question. … We all know you're not supposed to use taxpayer money for that purpose.
“These ads are virtually indistinguishable from those made for Trump's 2024 campaign, and yet you, the taxpayer, is funding them. It's an absolute violation of what democracy is supposed to look like. [Schumer said only Trump would have] the audacity to force Americans not only to watch his propaganda, but to pay for it.
“I will just tell you that right now in Utah, they're worried about affordability, and they don't want to be worried about how their taxpayer dollars are being spent.
“It would not have been something that I would have done. And I know that the White House is not covered by the same guidance that we are, but it's not something that I would have done.
“I don't think any public official, including President Trump or Kristi Noem or John Kennedy, should spend public money on private ads for themselves. … I also think that we ought to have a rule that no politician can have a building named after him while he's alive. I think that would settle a lot of this controversy. We have that rule in Louisiana. It works pretty well.
“"Demolish the deep state" - Trump has overseen the most corrupt administration in modern history making billions of dollars for him and his friends while your costs go up. "Expel the warmongers from our government" - Trump started a war with Iran that has cost taxpayers billions and raised your gas prices to almost $5 a gallon. "Rout the fake news media" - Trump's order banning news outlets from the White House was just struck down by a judge because it violated the First Amendment. … How much taxpayer money did the government spend on this ad?
“Don't worry, using taxpayer dollars to run ominous campaign ads of the President has been done before and is completely legal… in banana republics. … So much for DOGE. This is the kind of waste, fraud, and abuse they were originally supposed to go after.
“Every taxpayer, no matter your party, should be outraged by this. Your money is being used to fund campaign ads for Trump.
“It's not like they need a GoFundMe page to have the dollars to do that sort of ad and they could do it. But using taxpayer dollars, it feels like Viktor Orbán.
“[Letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles from the top Democratic appropriators, demanding the ad be taken off the air immediately:] This is the sort of government propaganda one might expect in North Korea, not the United States of America.
“[Letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles from the top Democratic appropriators, demanding the ad be taken off the air immediately:] This is the sort of government propaganda one might expect in North Korea, not the United States of America.
“The advertisement raises deep concerns about the Trump Administration's use of taxpayer dollars and its compliance with federal laws that prohibit the use of appropriated funds for the promotion of a political party or candidate. … The advertisement does not have a clear official government purpose. … This taxpayer-funded political advertisement serves as yet another troubling example of President Trump's growing list of expensive vanity projects – including the White House ballroom – that are estimated to cost over $1.8 billion.
“This may be felony criminal theft and conversion of government property for political campaign purposes. 18 U.S.C. 1641. It is a Hatch Act violation for any government employees who worked on it or used government resources to make it. It is blatantly unethical under numerous federal ethics provisions proscribing the use of government resources for political campaigns.
“[Letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles from the top Democratic appropriators, demanding the ad be taken off the air immediately:] This is the sort of government propaganda one might expect in North Korea, not the United States of America.
“[Letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles from the top Democratic appropriators, demanding the ad be taken off the air immediately:] This is the sort of government propaganda one might expect in North Korea, not the United States of America.