Judge Orders Trump Administration to Pull 3 Political Ads
A federal judge ruled that taxpayer-funded advertisements promoting unsubstantiated claims and political messaging must be removed from official government platforms.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon has ordered the federal government to remove three taxpayer-funded Trump administration advertisements, ruling they appear to have been created for political or propaganda purposes. The order mandates the removal of ads titled "$5,000 to Americans," "Every Democrat Voted Against No Tax on Tips," and "Cost of Socialism" from official government websites, including social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram.
The ruling came Friday after Rochon considered expanding a temporary restraining order she had previously issued against a series of ads that amplified President Donald Trump's political messaging during the midterm election cycle. The ads in question promote claims such as the president's assertion that every American would receive $5,000 if Republicans maintained control of Congress.
The White House had defended the advertisements as public service announcements, comparable to those issued by previous administrations. However, the plaintiffs, including the watchdog group Common Cause, argued that these ads differed from typical PSAs because they did not aim to help the public benefit from specific government programs.
Judge Rochon stated that the ads must also be withdrawn from any airings or distribution arranged through third parties, including Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc. She emphasized the need for immediate compliance, noting that the government would have no excuse to delay the removal of the advertisements.
While the plaintiffs sought the removal of at least 13 ads, Rochon ordered only three to be pulled, at least for the time being. She acknowledged the government's right to inform the public about its policies and respond to criticisms. However, she concluded that irreparable harm could befall the plaintiffs if the ads remained active while the case proceeds.
"This court can neither postpone an election nor turn back the clock," Rochon said, finding that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their claims and would suffer harm without the ads' removal. Bradley Girard, a lawyer with Democracy Forward representing the plaintiffs, stated that the order would halt the administration's "wanton disregard for the law" and affirmed that partisan ads should not be funded with taxpayer dollars.