WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security has allocated $20 million for a series of campaign-style advertisements praising President Donald Trump, a spending decision that has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans and Democrats who call it an improper — and potentially illegal — use of taxpayer money.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, two senior Democratic senators said the funding came from Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” and was originally intended for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“We should not have to remind you that using government funding to create or air political ads like the ones that have been running over the last few days is illegal and a shockingly corrupt misuse of taxpayer dollars,” wrote Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for Homeland Security funding.
The backlash over the hagiographic ads has continued since they began airing last week during high-profile television programming, including college and National Football League broadcasts. Critics from both parties have questioned the use of taxpayer funds, particularly with the midterm elections approaching.
The White House has defended the commercials, which carry the disclaimer “Paid for by the U.S. government,” describing them as public service announcements.
But the unusual spots, which mirror Republican midterm messaging and feature celebratory images from Trump’s presidency — including one set to a “Love me, Love me” refrain — appear to run afoul of a law prohibiting the use of congressionally appropriated funds for propaganda. Experts have also noted that the ads, airing on network and cable television as well as streaming platforms, differ from traditional government PSAs because they do not appear intended to help Americans access a specific program.
A new commercial released over the weekend closely resembles a black-and-white video from Trump’s 2024 campaign. It shows the president walking down a hallway while warning in a voice-over of a “final battle” against “globalists” and “warmongers.” The ad closes with Trump looking directly into the camera and the words “Paid for by the U.S. Government” on screen.
One Republican senator has likened Trump’s advertisements to spots used by Hungary’s authoritarian former leader, Viktor Orban.
According to data from outside firm AdImpact, more than $2.5 million was spent on the three advertisements during the past seven days. The total may be considerably higher, depending on whether television networks categorized the spots as political advertising.
The senators said DHS has committed $20 million to the advertising campaign.
A person who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the findings, which were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Trump’s ads use taxpayer dollars, skirting the law
The controversy comes as Republicans enter an increasingly unsettled midterm election season. Their control of the House and Senate, as well as Trump’s ability to advance his agenda, is at stake.
Voters say they are struggling with elevated gas and grocery prices and remain concerned about the U.S. war against Iran, which has now entered its seventh month. Democrats are preparing for sweeping oversight of Trump and his administration if they take power, and impeachment remains a possibility.
House Democrats said Trump’s Office of Management and Budget director, Russ Vought, transferred the money from Homeland Security to the advertising campaign on Sept. 19.
The Homeland Security funding is part of the $175 billion Congress awarded the department in the “Big, Beautiful, Bill” to support Trump’s immigration enforcement and deportation agenda. Democrats opposed the legislation, which Trump signed into law last summer, partly because it included steep cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, the ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security subcommittee, said that after cutting $1 trillion from Medicaid and social services and “more than quadrupling funding for mass deportations,” the Trump administration used the One Big Beautiful Bill to finance the president’s political advertisements.
The lawmakers said that if Democrats regain control, they “will work to uncover and reverse misuses of taxpayer money like this and hold those who abused their power accountable.”
The administration’s decision is particularly striking because Trump’s political committee, MAGA Inc., has hundreds of millions of dollars available for the midterm season. Groups aligned with MAGA Inc. have already begun spending money on House and Senate contests.
The administration has continued to defend its use of taxpayer funds for the advertisements and has given no indication that it plans to halt the campaign.
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