A federal judge pulled the plug on President Donald Trump’s taxpayer-funded TV ads, but the spots kept right on airing.
The Trump administration’s taxpayer-funded television ads aired hundreds of times after a federal judge ordered them off the air at about 6:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon of the Southern District of New York ordered the administration to cancel any remaining airings, including ones booked for that Sunday night. Her order also covered the contractor, LMD Agency Inc.
A Justice Department lawyer apologized Monday, Oct. 12, for the delay in complying. The department told the court in a filing that its agency lawyers did not know about the order until that morning.
AdImpact data reviewed by CNN shows two ads, “Final Battle” and “Maduro,” aired hundreds of times after the 6:45 p.m. ET order. A third ad, “The Country He Loves,” aired most recently at 12:17 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12.
Common Cause said the ads aired about 570 times after the original ruling. The group said 32 of those airings came on Monday, Oct. 12.
The government told the court it is now complying, after the Department of Homeland Security notified its advertising contractor.
A Ban That Now Runs Past Election Day
Rochon’s original order lasted 14 days. She extended it Wednesday, Oct. 14, through Nov. 8, after the Nov. 3 election. She set a hearing for Nov. 4 on a longer-lasting order.
Rochon had set a follow-up conference for Tuesday, Oct. 13, but after reviewing the parties’ weekend filings and arguments, she told them it was not needed.
A Watchdog and a Union Sue
The nonpartisan watchdog Common Cause brought the case along with Robert Hunter, a Democratic candidate for a seat in the Alabama state House, Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ and Empire State 32BJ SEIU PAC, the union’s political action committee. Democracy Forward, Campaign Legal Center Action and Public Integrity Project Action represent them.
The plaintiffs named the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of Management and Budget and the Executive Office of the President as defendants. They argue the administration used public money to tilt the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Rochon, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, found the coalition likely to win its case. She also found that an injunction served the public interest.
Common Cause CEO Virginia Kase Solomón said, “We won’t stop until this administration is held fully accountable.”
A $20 Million Border Buy
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a $20 million purchase order to LMD Agency Inc. on Sept. 20. The money came from an appropriation facilitated by the Working Families Tax Cut Act. The funds were available for, among other things, “commemorating efforts and events related to border security.”
LMD made about $19 million in media buys through Sunday, Oct. 11, according to a sworn declaration from Holly Mehringer, a senior Homeland Security official, filed Saturday, Oct. 10. Mehringer said the agency had no plans to buy more.
Lions, Maduro and “God Made Trump”
The ads ran on CBS, ABC, CNN, MS NOW, Fox News, Fox and Newsmax. They aired during NFL games and shows including “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The administration classified them as public service announcements, and each ends with a disclaimer saying the U.S. government paid for it.
One ad features President Donald Trump on the threat of communism. Another replays an ad from his last presidential campaign. A spot focused on the administration’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro began airing Tuesday, Oct. 6.
As of early October, other ads had not yet aired, including a recap of the UFC fight Trump hosted at the White House and one called “God Made Trump,” CNN reported. Another, “King of the Jungle,” shows lions hunting alongside images of former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The administration created at least 13 campaign-style ads.
Two Trump advisers familiar with the ads said the White House video team created them in-house. A pro-Trump meme group produced at least one ad. Trump personally drove the ad campaign, including helping select the imagery and videos used, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Trump Offers to Pay Himself
Republicans as well as Democrats complained about the ads. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters, “It shouldn’t be paid for with taxpayer dollars.”
Trump posted on Truth Social on Oct. 5 that the commercials were good promotion for the country, and that using government money for them was a normal thing to do. In the same post, he offered to cover the cost himself with money he raised for MAGA Inc., his super PAC.
The White House said MAGA Inc. will pay for future ads. A White House official said there were no immediate plans to pay the government back for what had already run.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin gave no indication the money would be returned when he was pressed on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on whether taxpayer dollars would be refunded. “Anytime we can do a public service announcement and brag about America, I’m all about it,” Mullin said.
The White House defended the spots as public service announcements like those of past administrations. The ads are not aimed at helping people use a specific government program. Legal experts said the spending may violate a federal statute barring money appropriated by Congress from being used for publicity or propaganda.
The Justice Department argued in a filing Saturday, Oct. 10, that a restraining order was unnecessary because the ads were set to stop the next day. The department sidestepped whether the ads were legal in the first place.
Rochon wrote in her opinion that the government did not address funding of the ad campaign by MAGA Inc. or Trump.
The Justice Department conceded in its filing that the ads “(attack) a generic list of ‘villains,’” but emphasized they did not “address any specific race, electoral candidate, or party.”
The Democratic National Committee filed its own suit over the ads on Oct. 7 before a judge in Washington, D.C. The committee asked the court to stop the president from using taxpayer money to promote himself.
