Topic · 2 reports

Trump

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GOP Senators Criticize Trump’s Taxpayer-Funded ‘Deep State’ TV Ads

Oct 1, 2026

The short clip promotes a Bulwark newsletter reporting that federal-government-funded television advertisements featuring President Trump walking down a hallway and vowing to “demolish the deep state,” expel “warmongers,” “globalists,” “communists, Marxists and fascists,” and “rout the fake news media” have aired during NFL games and other programming. These spots end with “Paid for by the U.S. Government” and closely mirror 2024 Trump campaign videos. The segment notes that even Republican members of Congress the host spoke with view the ads as potentially illegal or improper ahead of the 2026 midterms. Sourcing relies on the host’s anonymous conversations with GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill plus the written newsletter; no named guests appear. The throughline is congressional frustration and limited recourse despite bipartisan criticism, with the White House defending the spots as patriotic public-service announcements reminding Americans why the country is worth defending.

▶ Source: The Bulwark

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Trump airs taxpayer-funded ads resembling 2024 campaign spots ahead of midterms

Sep 28, 2026

The USA TODAY segment reports that the Trump White House is spending federal funds on television advertisements featuring the president that closely resemble his 2024 campaign spots, including one warning of a "final battle" against the deep state and another with "love me" lyrics. It notes the ads carry a "Paid for by the U.S. Government" disclaimer and are defended by the administration as non-political public service announcements since Trump is not on the November ballot and they contain no explicit get-out-the-vote message. Democrats, Public Citizen, and some Republicans including Sen. John Kennedy have criticized the spots as inappropriate or illegal misuse of taxpayer money. The report states there is no clear mechanism to force their removal and they are expected to continue. Sourcing relies on the ads themselves, statements from the White House, Democratic lawmakers' letter, Public Citizen's GAO complaint citing propaganda and Hatch Act violations, and Kennedy's CBS interview. No named administration officials beyond the general White House position are quoted; graphics or specific ad footage are implied but not detailed in the transcript.

▶ Source: USA TODAY