White House ad draws criticism
The gist
The White House aired taxpayer-funded pro-Trump ads before November's midterms, spending at least $443,000.
Democrats and some Republicans call them campaign ads; the White House disagrees.
How it unfolded
- Sep 23, 2026The first government-funded pro-Trump ad began airing on Fox News and Newsmax.
- Sep 24, 2026A second ad, with rapidly edited images of Trump and audio denouncing communism and socialism, began airing.
- Sep 25, 2026AdImpact put the ad's cost at $430,000, up from $14,000; the AP reported at least $443,000 spent on the first ad. The White House issued a statement defending the ads.