A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately stop broadcasting a series of taxpayer-funded television advertisements that cast Donald Trump in a favorable light, according to Nine.com.au.
The ruling came after a group of the president's political opponents filed a complaint accusing the administration of improperly spending public money on the multimillion-dollar ad campaign.
In court filings submitted on Saturday, the administration said it had already taken steps to end the broadcasts after Sunday, and the Justice Department contended that a temporary restraining order was not needed because, in its view, the conduct at issue was set to stop on its own. Judge Rochon rejected that argument and directed that any advertisements slated to run on Sunday night be pulled.
Why it matters
The case centers on whether the executive branch can use funds appropriated by Congress for one purpose to pay for messaging that benefits a sitting president. Legal experts cited in the reporting have said the arrangement may conflict with a federal law that bars congressionally appropriated money from being spent on "publicity or propaganda," and possibly with other statutes as well.
The dispute also tests how much deference courts will give the administration's own assurances that a challenged practice will end without judicial intervention. Here, the judge declined to rely on that promise alone.
What the judge's order covers
Rochon's order bars the defendants from entering into, renewing, or expanding any agreement that authorizes the development, creation, distribution, placement, or airing of the advertisements at issue. The restriction is set to remain in place for two weeks.
The Department of Homeland Security supplied $US20 million in taxpayer funds for the ad blitz, according to Nine.com.au. That money was drawn from a $US175 million package Congress provided to the department as part of Trump's immigration enforcement agenda.
The White House has defended the advertisements as public service announcements, comparing them to messaging past administrations have used to promote their policies.
How these ads differ from typical public service announcements
According to the reporting, the recent advertisements diverge from many earlier public service announcements because they are not designed to help the public take advantage of specific government programs. One of the ads is described as a near copy of a 2024 advertisement Trump used during his presidential reelection campaign.
The court filings and the judge's ruling mark the latest development in a fight over the use of government money for political messaging. The administration has maintained its position that the spending was appropriate, while the challengers argue it crossed legal lines.
What to watch next: whether the administration appeals the two-week order or moves to resume the ad campaign once the restriction lapses.
