A federal judge has ordered U.S. President Donald Trump to halt any remaining taxpayer-funded television commercials promoting his political message. The judge, Jennifer L. Rochon, sided with a coalition that challenged the ads as an improper use of funds. The administration was directed to cancel all upcoming ads, including those scheduled for Sunday night.
According to the ruling, the administration is prohibited from entering into or expanding agreements for the development, dissemination, or airing of the contested advertisements during the two-week period covered by the order. The White House did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment on the matter.
The Justice Department had argued against the necessity of the temporary restraining order, stating that the contested conduct would cease the following day. These ads, financed by $20 million from the Department of Homeland Security, have faced criticism for potentially violating federal laws against the use of congressionally allocated funds for publicity or propaganda.
The funding for these ads was part of a larger $175 million package allocated by Congress for Trump’s immigration enforcement initiatives. While the White House has characterized the ads as public service announcements similar to previous administrations’ efforts, critics note that these ads lack the focus on public benefit that past campaigns had. One of the ads closely resembles a commercial from Trump’s 2024 presidential re-election campaign.
