Taxpayer-Funded Trump TV Ad Criticized By Democrats
Is this ad illegal self-promotion or legitimate public education?
Above: President Trump in New York on Sept. 22. Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
Tax dollars paying for a glossy montage of one man set to a love song is propaganda. The law already says appropriated funds can't be spent on partisan messaging. Dropping it into cable prime time weeks before a midterm makes the purpose obvious enough. Anyone who wants the public to adore him can open his own $400 million war chest and foot the bill.
Pro-Trump narrative
A spot urging Americans to love their country and reject communism isn't a campaign ad. Administrations of both parties have bought airtime to explain policy and rally the public, and that was always called public education. Patriotism paid for openly and disclosed on screen is a government doing its job.
