Wasting taxpayer money – Judge stops Trump’s $20 million TV ads

Federal judge Jennifer L. Rochon in New York ruled in favor of a coalition that also includes the non-partisan control organization Common Cause. The plaintiffs see the commercials as an unlawful use of public funds. With an interim injunction, Rochon ordered the government to cancel all outstanding broadcasts - including those planned for Sunday evening.

The order is valid for two weeks. During this time, the government may not conclude any new contracts for the offending commercials or expand existing agreements. The Justice Department had argued that the order was unnecessary since the campaign was scheduled to end on Sunday anyway.

The Department of Homeland Security provided $20 million in taxpayer funds for the spots. Legal experts see possible violations of laws that restrict the use of state resources for political propaganda. The White House defended the ads as a public information campaign. However, one of the spots closely resembles a campaign video that Trump used for his re-election in 2024.