Two Democratic senators are pressing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for answers after reports surfaced that taxpayer money was used to air television advertisements promoting President Trump. In a letter sent Tuesday to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) demanded a detailed accounting of the funds within 48 hours.
The lawmakers' letter follows an investigation revealing that DHS allocated resources to produce and broadcast a 30-second spot featuring Trump declaring, "Together, we will defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America," set to the song "Love Me" by JMSN. The ad has sparked bipartisan criticism, with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) arguing it violates the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.
Democrats Call It 'Theft' of Taxpayer Money
Murray and Murphy did not mince words in their letter, writing: "The American people deserve answers about how this president is literally stealing their tax dollars to air campaign ads celebrating himself — while doing nothing to help them afford health care or housing." They added, "These ads need to immediately come off the air, taxpayers need to be paid back for this theft, and everyone responsible needs to be held accountable for this corrupt and illegal propaganda."
The senators specifically asked Mullin to provide a breakdown of how DHS funds were used in the ad's production, including which office authorized the expenditure and who directed the transfer. They also cited data from AdImpact, a political ad-tracking firm, estimating the administration has spent over $1.7 million to run the ads on national networks.
White House Defends Ads as 'Public Service Announcements'
In response to the criticism, DHS referred inquiries to the White House, which defended the commercials as "public service announcements." A statement from the White House said: "The announcements are very clearly not campaign ads; President Trump is not on the ballot and there is no call to action. Instead, 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."
However, the president has repeatedly urged voters to "pretend" he is on the ballot in the upcoming midterm elections, and he has promised a $5,000 payment to every American adult if Republicans retain control of Congress. These comments have fueled Democratic accusations that the ads are politically motivated.
GOP Lawmaker Joins Criticism
Murray and Murphy noted that their concerns are not purely partisan, pointing to Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), who told CBS News's "Face the Nation" on Sunday that public officials should not "spend public money on private ads for themselves." Kennedy said, "The White House sees it differently, but … you can't spend public money to promote yourself."
The Democrats called the administration's defense "as absurd as it is offensive," and they reiterated that the principle is straightforward. The letter also raises broader questions about how the Trump administration is managing federal resources, echoing concerns about potential misuse of health funds and other fiscal cliffs.
This latest controversy comes amid heated midterm battles, with international actors like Iran's IRGC urging U.S. voters to reject Trump in the midterms—a sign of how the spending issue could resonate beyond domestic politics. As the story develops, the senators' demand for answers may set the stage for a broader oversight fight over executive branch spending.
