Judge extends block on taxpayer-funded Trump ads until after midterms

A federal judge on Wednesday extended a temporary block on the Trump administration’s controversial ad campaign featuring President Trump until after the midterms.

A temporary restraining order issued Sunday, which required the administration to stop airing the commercials and cancel any remaining ad placements, is now in effect until Nov. 8, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon said in court filings .

The nearly $20 million ad campaign , which included at least five commercials promoting Trump and his policies, is being challenged by several groups as an illegal misuse of taxpayer funds.

The ads, paid for through money earmarked for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, have also been criticized as “political propaganda.” One 30 second spot features the president’s voice denouncing communism, socialism and Marxism and is set to the song “Love Me” by JMSN, who says the White House did not obtain his permission to use the music.

Each ad included a disclaimer tag stating it was “paid for by the U.S. government.”

When reached for comment Thursday, the White House pointed to a recent Truth Social post in which Trump called the ads a “rather standard thing to do” but pledged to pay for them himself or by using outside groups.

“The Radical Left is upset with the fact that I am taking Ads, which I consider to be a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A., and paying for them with U.S.A. money,” the president wrote. “Although nothing will make them happy, I have decided to do the Patriotic Ads, among others, and pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc.”

The White House has also claimed that the ads are no different from public service announcements used by prior administrations to highlight a president’s policies and vision for the country.

The Justice Department previously argued that the lawsuit was moot because the ads were slated to stop airing on Sunday night anyway. The judge, however, rejected that argument.

The challengers complained to the judge on Monday that the spots had continued to air hours after the initial halt was ordered on Sunday morning.

Justice Department lawyers apologized in court filings the next day, saying some federal employees did not see the order until that Monday morning, which delayed the cancellation of the already purchased ad time.

The Democratic National Committee is also suing over the ads , with a hearing slated for Thursday morning before a federal judge in the nation’s capital.