A Court Order Targets Three Trump Administration Ads
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon, appointed by Joe Biden, ordered the Trump administration to immediately remove three taxpayer-funded ads from official government websites and social media accounts, including YouTube and Instagram. The order came Friday in a case brought by a coalition led by Common Cause. The ads are titled “$5,000 to Americans,” “Every Democrat Voted Against No Tax on Tips,” and “Cost of Socialism.” Rochon also ordered the government to cancel plans to distribute the videos through outside groups, including President Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc.
The $5,000 Message Drew the Judge’s Attention
The video features Trump speaking from the Oval Office about the economy and the midterm elections. He says, “If the Democrats win, you will have an economic depression. If the Republicans win, you will each have $5,000 in your pocket.” Judge Rochon said she was “hard pressed” to view that message as anything other than a direct partisan appeal to support Republicans. She called all three videos “purely partisan” efforts intended to criticize Democrats and promote Republicans. The administration, however, described the videos as educational and unapologetically patriotic public service announcements designed to remind Americans why the country is worth defending.
Ruling Expands Earlier Restrictions on Ads
The latest order expands a temporary restraining order Rochon issued two weeks earlier. That decision blocked television ads paid for with Department of Homeland Security funds after progressive groups sued. The plaintiffs had sought the removal of at least 13 ads, but Rochon declined to take down several others, saying the government was likely to prevail regarding those videos. She also noted that the Government Accountability Office has recognized situations in which a president’s office may inform the public about policies, justify those policies, or respond to attacks. The earlier television campaign included spots about the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Trump’s “Final Battle” message about dismantling the deep state and routing the fake news media. Before the earlier court order, the campaign had received roughly $19 million to $20 million in DHS border-security-related funding.
White House Calls the Order Lawless
White House spokesperson Lauren Bis responded forcefully, saying, “This Biden-appointed activist judge issued a lawless order to stop the administration from sharing patriotic videos.” Trump previously said he would gladly pay for the ads himself. He later announced that MAGA Inc. would take over their funding and described them as “a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A.” rather than candidate advertising. Progressive plaintiffs and their lawyers at Democracy Forward celebrated the decision, arguing that it stopped what they called a “wanton disregard for the law.”