A federal judge on Wednesday extended a temporary block on the Trump administration's controversial ad campaign featuring President Trump, keeping the commercials off the air through the midterm elections. The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon, extends a temporary restraining order that was first granted on Sunday and now remains in effect until Nov. 8.
The nearly $20 million campaign, which included at least five spots promoting Trump and his policies, has been challenged by several advocacy groups as an illegal use of taxpayer funds. The ads were paid for with money earmarked for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and critics have labeled them “political propaganda.” One 30-second ad features the president's voice denouncing communism, socialism, and Marxism, set to the song “Love Me” by JMSN, who says the White House never obtained his permission to use the track. Each ad carried a disclaimer stating it was “paid for by the U.S. government.”
In response to the controversy, the White House pointed to a recent Truth Social post in which Trump called the ads a “rather standard thing to do” but pledged to reimburse the government or use outside funds. “The Radical Left is upset with the fact that I am taking Ads, which I consider to be a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A., and paying for them with U.S.A. money,” the president wrote. “…although nothing will make them happy, I have decided to do the Patriotic Ads, among others, and pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc.”
The administration has also argued that the ads are no different from public service announcements used by previous presidents to highlight their policies and vision. However, the Justice Department's earlier claim that the lawsuit was moot—because the ads were slated to stop airing on Sunday night—was rejected by the judge.
On Monday, the challengers complained that the spots continued to air hours after the initial halt was ordered. DOJ lawyers apologized in court filings the next day, explaining that some federal employees did not see the order until Monday morning, which delayed the cancellation of already-purchased ad time.
The Democratic National Committee is also suing over the ads, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday morning before a federal judge in Washington, D.C. This legal battle comes amid broader scrutiny of Trump's use of federal resources for political messaging, a controversy that has echoes in his midterm blitz strategy, which some worry could overshadow his economic message.
The ruling is a setback for the White House, which had hoped to keep the ads running through the election season. It also follows a pattern of legal challenges to Trump's actions, including his attempts to delay a deposition in a separate case.
As the midterms approach, the ad campaign's fate remains uncertain. Trump's pledge to fund the ads himself may not resolve the underlying legal questions about the original use of CBP funds. The judge's decision ensures that, for now, taxpayers will not be footing the bill for the president's promotional spots during the final stretch of the campaign.
