Judge orders taxpayer-funded pro-Trump TV ads off the air
A federal judge on Sunday ordered the Trump administration to pull taxpayer-funded TV ads that praise President Trump. The order cancels the last ad slots and blocks new spending for two weeks. The government had spent about $19 million and said the ads would end Sunday anyway.
A federal judge on Sunday ordered the Trump administration to stop airing taxpayer-funded TV ads that promote President Donald Trump, effective immediately.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon in New York issued a temporary restraining order that took effect at 6:45 p.m. ET, CNN reported. It requires the government to cancel any remaining ad slots, including those set to air Sunday night. It also bars the use of Homeland Security funds to make or air the ads. The order lasts two weeks.
The suit was brought by the watchdog group Common Cause; Robert Hunter, a Democratic candidate for the Alabama state House; and a New York labor union and its political action committee. The Democratic National Committee has filed a separate suit.
The administration had told the court the ads would end Sunday anyway. A Homeland Security official said in a sworn statement that about $19 million had been spent on airtime, CNN reported. The money came from $20 million set aside from U.S. Customs and Border Protection funds. Rochon ruled the case was not moot.
"We are pleased the court acted swiftly to prevent more taxpayer dollars from being used for such blatantly unlawful political propaganda," the groups that sued said in a statement.
The White House has said the ads are not campaign ads, since Trump is not on the ballot. "These public service announcements are unapologetically American, clearly disclosed, and aimed at the country—not a line on the ballot," it said in September, The Epoch Times reported.
On Oct. 5, Trump said he would pay for future ads himself, with money he raised for his super PAC, MAGA Inc. But the taxpayer-funded ads were still airing six days later, CNN reported. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended them Sunday on CBS. "Anytime we can do a public service announcement and brag about America, I'm all about it," he said.
What we know: A judge ordered the taxpayer-funded pro-Trump ads off the air Sunday and blocked new spending on them for two weeks.
What we don't: Whether the administration will appeal, and whether any of the money will be paid back.
Where outlets agree CNN, NBC News and The Epoch Times all report that Judge Jennifer Rochon ordered the administration to cancel remaining ads, including those set to air Sunday night.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.