Trump airs taxpayer-funded 'final battle' ad during NFL games

CNN posted a YouTube video under the title “Trump warns of ‘final battle’ as staff sours on election chances.” The channel’s own description states that the White House has launched another taxpayer-funded television ad before the midterms, this time with imagery of President Donald Trump walking down a hall as audio plays of him saying “this is the final battle.”

The ad aired Sunday, Sept. 27, during Fox broadcasts of the Washington Commanders-Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers-Cleveland Browns games, CNN reported. More than $300,000 has been spent on the spot, according to The Washington Post.

The voiceover opens with “This is the final battle with you at my side.” It continues: “We will cast out the communists, Marxists, and fascists. We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country. We will rout the fake news media, and we will liberate America from these villains once and for all.” Joey Garrison of USA TODAY wrote that the commercial is similar to one Trump used in his 2024 presidential campaign. The Independent reported it is nearly identical to a video he shared on Truth Social in January 2024 that included a “Fight for America” campaign message.

Alonso Martínez of EL PAÍS identified the spot as the third in a series of taxpayer-funded ads the White House has presented as public service announcements. An earlier commercial titled “America Will Never Be a Communist Country” aired Thursday and featured Dana White, The Independent reported. That ad included Trump saying “Together we will defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America” and “America will never be a communist country,” according to The Hill, with the JMSN song “Love Me” playing in the background. Both Democrats and Republicans criticized that earlier taxpayer-funded spot. Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democrats, said: “Took this one right out of the Florida Republican playbook. This ad is pure communist propaganda. The pure collapse of Trump.” Joyce Alene, a former U.S. attorney, said: “Hold the party that condones this responsible in November.” The Independent attributed both remarks.

The White House told CNN the commercials “are very clearly not campaign ads.” Defending the earlier spot in a statement, a spokesperson said: “These public service announcements are about reminding Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending, at home, at our borders, and abroad.” Lawmakers from both parties have objected to the use of public money. Sen. John Kennedy said no public official, including Trump, should use taxpayer funds for advertisements intended to promote his own image, EL PAÍS reported. Rep. Thomas Massie called the new commercial “ominous,” the same outlet wrote. USA TODAY noted that federal law and annual appropriations acts prohibit public money from paying for political advertisements, and that the Hatch Act restricts federal employees from engaging in political activity.