Trump's "Final Battle" TV Ads Using Government Funds Ahead of Midterms Spark Controversy

The White House is facing controversy after releasing advertisements funded by the government that promote U.S. President Donald Trump and target the opposition Democratic Party, just five weeks ahead of the November midterm elections, CNN reported on the 27th (local time).

According to the report, the commercials aired during at least two National Football League (NFL) games broadcast on the pro-Trump terrestrial network Fox earlier that day.

The roughly 30-second ad begins with footage of President Trump walking inside a building, accompanied by his voice saying, "This is the final battle we are fighting together with you."

President Trump continues, "We will dismantle the 'deep state' and oust the warmongers within the government," adding, "We will drive out globalists and deport communists, Marxists, and fascists."

Amid strong advances by progressive candidates belonging to the Democratic Socialists faction within the Democratic Party during this year's midterm primary elections, President Trump has classified them as "communists," emphasized the need to eradicate them, and sought to rally his base.

This ad is nearly identical to a campaign video released by President Trump in January 2024 through his social media platform Truth Social.

While the previous video included his presidential campaign logo and a text messaging number at the end, the new advertisement features a disclosure stating that the U.S. government paid for the ad.

This commercial is the third TV advertisement recently produced and aired by the Trump administration.

An ad that began airing on the 23rd rapidly edits together photos and President Trump's voice declaring, "Together, we will defeat communism, socialism, and Marxism."

In the second ad, which is about one minute long, audio is played from a speech President Trump delivered during his visit to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota—which features the giant carved heads of four former U.S. presidents—on July 3, the eve of the nation's 250th independence anniversary.

In response, the White House claimed that the spots are not political campaign ads, but public service announcements.

A White House spokesperson said in a statement that "the ads are educational and proudly patriotic," and that "we should be proud of our country," CNN reported.

However, the government watchdog group Common Cause pointed out that the commercials may violate rules prohibiting the use of taxpayers' money for "political propaganda."

Carol Evans, vice president for policy at Common Cause, told CNN, "You don't have to be a legal scholar to question why a president should use taxpayer money to promote his own image right before an election."

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.