White House defends pro-Trump TV ads timed with midterms: ‘Patriotism isn’t partisan’

The White House defended the pro-President Trump television campaign that aired this week ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, saying that “patriotism isn’t partisan.”

“The announcements are a reminder for Americans to love their country and know why it’s worth defending — at home, at the border, and abroad,” the White House wrote in a press release . “These public service announcements are unapologetically American, clearly disclosed, and aimed at the country — not a line on the ballot.”

The 30-second commercial features Trump’s voice saying, “Together we will defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America” and “America will never be a communist country.” The song “Love Me” by JMSN, whose name is Christian Berishaj, plays in the background.

The ad used 2024 remarks from UFC President Dana White describing the president as “the toughest, most resilient person that I’ve ever met and nothing is going to stop him from fighting so hard for the country that he’s lost.”

The ad’s disclaimer reads, “Paid for by the U.S. Government.”

The White House cited multiple examples of presidents in the past using similar ad campaigns “to explain policy and make the case for the nation’s direction.”

The list included former President Biden’s “ We can do this ” vaccine commercials from 2021 that encouraged Americans to get vaccinated against COVID during the pandemic.

It also stated that “the announcements are very clearly not campaign ads; President Trump is not on the ballot and there is no call to action.”

Trump has endorsed a number of candidates in the upcoming midterm elections, and in August he encouraged voters to “pretend” he is “on the ballot.”

He invoked this same messaging tactic during a rally for Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) for her runoff election in the Palmetto State.

AdImpact, a political media monitoring company, estimated the Trump administration spent more than $400,000 to run the ads, according to The Associated Press . The outlet also reported that the ad is running on primetime and morning shows on CBS and various Fox News programming.

AdImpact wrote on social media that Trump’s July 4th advertisement began airing Friday. It featured Trump narrating alongside a montage of pictures of the president delivering remarks at Mount Rushmore.