Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed concern with the apparent use of taxpayer money by the White House to fund a new ad campaign glorifying President Donald Trump.
“It’s a great message,” Thune told reporters on Monday. “I like the message. But it shouldn’t be paid for with taxpayer dollars.”
Thune noted Trump has not explained “exactly where the money’s coming from” for the ads, which began airing Wednesday on FOX.
The campaign includes a spot that is almost identical to one issued by Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, yet all of the videos say “Paid for by the U.S. government” at the end.
The latest ad from the White House features Trump claiming, “This is the final battle … we will demolish the deep state,” and, “We will cast out the communists, Marxists and fascists.”
With his criticism, Thune joined a handful of other Republicans who have spoken out against the administration’s taxpayer-funded ads, like Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), who told CBS’ “Face The Nation” that politicians shouldn’t “spend public money on private ads for themselves.”
Congressional Democrats condemned the campaign in even harsher terms. Both Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) slammed the administration for funding the ads while living costs continue to rise and Trump’s war in Iran drags on.
“The White House is spending YOUR taxpayer money on pro-Trump campaign ads,” Coons wrote in a social media post. “Not on healthcare, not on food assistance — campaign ads. Do they think you don’t notice what they’re doing?”
A White House spokesperson did not respond to questions about how the ads were funded but claimed they “are clearly not political,” referring to them as public service announcements.
“The president is not on the ballot, and the ads don’t have a call to action,” the official added.