Trump personally handpicked images for taxpayer-funded campaign-style ads aired ahead of November midterms

From the Newshound archive · first published 29 September 2026.

President Donald Trump personally selected the images and video clips used in taxpayer-funded ads celebrating his administration. Produced internally by the White House communications team, the spots have raised concerns that federal employees may have broken the law. Senate Majority Leader John Thune spoke favourably of the content, saying the ads pushed a great message, but conceded they "shouldn't be paid for with taxpayer dollars." The ads are running in the critical period before the November midterms, at which Republicans are widely expected to take heavy losses.

One ad broadcast during NFL coverage was nearly indistinguishable from a Trump 2024 campaign video, differing only in the removal of "Trump 2024" branding and its replacement with "Paid for by the U.S. Government."

A former Trump campaign official reportedly described the ads as "dumb, dumb, dumb beyond belief," and several White House staffers were said to have been unaware of the spots until they went on air.

The White House maintains the videos are public service announcements, comparable to previous administrations' campaigns promoting Covid vaccinations, and not political material.