‘Inappropriate’: 86% Americans reject taxpayer-funded Trump election ads

US President Donald Trump’s election-related television ads have come under scrutiny ahead of the November midterms, with 86% of Americans saying it is inappropriate to use taxpayer money to fund ads featuring the president or his cabinet, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.The six-day poll, which included responses from 4,506 US adults and had a margin of error ​of about 2 percentage points, found that the view cuts across party lines, with four out of five Republicans also calling the use of taxpayer funds for such ads inappropriate.The findings come as three nationally broadcast ads promoting what they describe as a “golden age of America” air weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. Ethics experts and lawmakers from both parties have questioned whether public funds are being used to promote Trump politically, while some critics have said the ads could violate longstanding restrictions on government propaganda and political activity.Trump and his aides have rejected those criticisms, saying the advertisements are educational and patriotic and are not intended to promote any politician’s candidacy.“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,” a White House spokesperson said, declining to be named.Trump said late on Monday that he would pay for the ads himself or with money raised by his MAGA political committeePressure on Republicans ahead of electionsThe controversy comes as Republicans seeking reelection face pressure ahead of the midterms, with Trump’s approval rating at record lows, according to the poll.Trump has also taken a series of unusual steps in recent months to promote his brand and accomplishments, including a sweeping makeover of Washington.The Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 71% of respondents opposed renaming the Kennedy Center to include Trump’s name, while only a quarter of Republicans supported the idea.Overall, 68% of respondents in the Reuters/Ipsos poll also said that keeping some reporters out of the White House was inappropriate. Republicans were more supportive of the practice, with 57% backing the exclusion of some reporters, while Democrats and independents were overwhelmingly opposed.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.