Groups such as the government watchdog “Common Cause” filed a lawsuit alleging that taxpayer-funded promotional advertisements featuring Trump violated laws prohibiting the use of public funds for political campaigning. On the evening of the 11th, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon issued a restraining order requiring the Trump administration to pull the advertisements promoting President Trump.
In a four-page ruling, Judge Rochon—appointed by President Biden—stated that the Trump administration is barred from using government funds to air promotional ads featuring Trump and must cancel all time slots, placements, reservations, or arrangements for the contested advertisements.
The Wall Street Journal reported that, in a court filing submitted over the weekend, the Department of Justice stated the plan to purchase the advertisements was already scheduled to conclude on the 11th.
Promotional advertisements highlighting government policies and featuring Trump began airing on national television channels in September. The cost of the ads was covered by federal funds from the Department of Homeland Security; Trump personally championed the campaign and participated in the production of the advertisements.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit included “Common Cause” and a Democratic candidate from Alabama. The complaint alleged that federal funds were diverted for purposes not authorized by Congress, violating laws that prohibit the use of public money for political campaigning.
Last week, Trump stated that he would use funds from his super PAC, “Make America Great Again, Inc.” (MAGA, Inc.), rather than federal government funds, to cover the cost of the advertisements.