DNC Sues Trump Over Taxpayer-Funded Ads

The DNC sued Trump, the White House, DHS and OMB on Oct. 7, 2026, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia over TV ads backed by $20 million in DHS funds; AdImpact puts spending already above $12 million. A fifth ad aired Tuesday with a 'paid for by the U.S. Government' notice promoting Trump's Venezuela military actions after Trump said Monday MAGA Inc. would pay for future ads. The funds came from a $175 million immigration package. Midterms are Nov. 3, 2026, with early voting underway. Federal law bars appropriated money for 'publicity or propaganda.' Contested: The DNC calls the ads illegal propaganda to 'resuscitate his historically low approval ratings and avoid widespread Republican defeats,' saying the administration 'continued to air the ads at public expense' after the MAGA Inc. pledge. Trump called them 'positive promotion for our Great U.S.A.' and said 'we'll decide' on reimbursing spent funds. Ken Martin termed it 'a last-ditch attempt to save Republicans in November' and said Americans 'deserve better than to have their hard-earned tax dollars used for Trump's illegal schemes.' The DNC seeks a court order declaring the ads illegal and stopping further federal funding. The allegations have not been adjudicated.