US judge orders halt to taxpayer-funded Trump ads

WASHINGTON - A US federal judge on Sunday ordered the Trump administration to immediately halt any remaining taxpayer-funded television ads promoting President Donald Trump, including those scheduled to air later that evening.

US District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon in New York issued a temporary restraining order after siding with a coalition of plaintiffs, including the nonpartisan watchdog Common Cause, who challenged the ads as an illegal misuse of public funds, according to local media reports.

The ruling came as the Trump administration said its advertising campaign, which had cost approximately 19 million US dollars in taxpayer funds, was set to end Sunday.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Wednesday sued the Trump administration over what it described as campaign-style television advertisements, accusing the administration of using taxpayer funds in violation of federal laws.

The DNC lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, listed the president, the White House Office, the Office of Management and Budget and the US Department of Homeland Security as defendants.

In late September, advertisements began to appear on broadcast television, touting Trump and his midterm messaging, including one which is virtually identical to a 2024 campaign ad, according to the complaint. The complaint noted that each advertisement ends with the statement "Paid for by the US Government."