The Democratic National Committee and Common Cause have challenged Donald Trump’s advertising campaign in court, arguing that it unlawfully used public funds.
The Democratic committee filed its case in federal court in Washington, while Common Cause brought a separate lawsuit in the Southern District of New York. Both say the ads are political and violate a ban on using public money for propaganda. They ask the courts to declare the campaign illegal, halt the spending and seek repayment of money already used.
The lawsuits allege that Trump directed the White House to redirect $20 million in congressional funding for Homeland Security commemorative activities related to border security. Common Cause says that move violated the constitutional separation of powers.
The ads began airing in September. AdImpact, an advertising analytics firm, puts the campaign’s costs at more than $12 million. One spot features a choir singing over images of Trump, another shows him heralding a “golden age of America.” A third depicts him warning of a “final battle” against what he calls the deep state.
Trump defended the campaign as a way to promote the country and compared it with public information campaigns by previous administrations. After bipartisan criticism, he said future ads would no longer be paid for with public money. He did not pledge to reimburse the government for money already spent.
In a Reuters-Ipsos poll released Wednesday, 86% of Americans surveyed said it was inappropriate to use public funds for the ads. Four in five Republicans agreed.