Even as President Donald Trump has tried to block CNN and MS NOW from covering the White House, his administration has purchased pro-Trump TV ad time on the news networks — using taxpayer money.
The ads began running on Fox News and Newsmax last week, and the White House has now aired spos on CBS, Fox, NBC and ABC. In addition, through Wednesday, the Trump administration has aired 38 ads on MS NOW and 10 on CNN, according to data provided by advertising-tracking firm AdImpact, as reported by the Washington Post.
The Trump administration has spent at least $2.87 million running three different ads, according to AdImpact estimates. The ads end with a disclaimer that reads, “Paid for by the U.S. Government.” The commercials tout the president’s agenda in fighting “communism, socialism and Marxism” as well as “the fake news media,” “globalists” and “the deep state.”
In a statement to Variety, a White House spokesperson said, “These public service announcements are about reminding Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending, at home, at our borders, and abroad. The ad is educational and unapologetically patriotic. We should be proud of our country.”
CNN declined to comment. MS NOW spokesman Richard Hudock told the Washington Post, “We know the size, engagement, and influence of the MS NOW audience, and apparently the White House does, too. The decision to spend taxpayer dollars to reach our audience speaks for itself.” According to Hudock, like all paid advertising on MS NOW, the White House ad on the network “was subject to an established review process by the sales team,” adding, “Accepting an advertisement is not an endorsement of its message, and purchasing airtime will never purchase favorable coverage. Our journalists have already reported on the serious questions surrounding these advertisements, and we will continue doing exactly that.”
The Trump administration’s purchase of ads on CNN and MS NOW come after Trump two weeks ago banned the networks from the White House (along with Politico) because he feels their coverage has been “negative.” The three outlets sued and a federal judge ordered the White House to immediately reinstate access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists in the temporary restraining order.
The pro-Trump ads — including one in which the president declares that “America will never be a communist country” — have drawn criticism from Democrat and Republican lawmakers who say they appear to be illegal campaign ads running ahead of November’s 2026 midterm elections.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) alleged the ads violate the Hatch Act, which prohibits certain political activities by federal employees. The pro-Trump ad from the White House “may be felony criminal theft and conversion of government property for political campaign purposes,” Raskin wrote in posts on social media.
The White House has previously defended the ads, noting that multiple other presidential administrations have run PSAs promoting policies and to “make the case for the nation’s direction.”
‘The attacks on President Donald J. Trump’s public service announcements are highly dishonest. The announcements are very clearly not campaign ads; President Trump is not on the ballot and there is no call to action,” the White House said in a Sept. 25 statement.
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