The White House spent $20 million on 13 political‑style ads, some of which have already aired on CBS, CNN, Fox News, and MS NOW, according to CNN sources who accessed a Dropbox folder run by LMD, the agency awarded the contract.
The ads—ranging from 15 seconds to three minutes—feature Trump in patriotic settings, the “God Made Trump” title, military operations in Iran and Venezuela, and a UFC event at the White House, all ending with “Paid for by the US Government” and footage of Melania Trump. They also use audio of favorable news reports and images of Biden’s autopen signature.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, warned on X that the ads could constitute felony theft and conversion of government property, while Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Senator John Cornyn of Texas rejected the use of taxpayer money for partisan messaging, citing the appropriations law.
White House spokesperson Michael McCarthy said the videos are public service announcements and part of the administration’s communication strategy, insisting that the ads are not political propaganda and that the Treasury Department’s Customs and Border Protection is funding the effort.
The campaign has left watchdog groups and Congress poised to pursue legal action; Raskin said he would seek a subpoena if Democrats win the House next year, while the agency has no record of any congressional resolution stopping the ads. The administration has signaled it intends to expand the effort regardless of the backlash.
The next step will be a congressional hearing in September to examine the legality of the spending, with the possibility of a federal court challenge looming as the midterm election approaches.