CLC's Margaret Dylus-Yukins on Recent Political Ads Featuring the President

In late September 2026, ahead of the midterm elections, a series of advertisements that heavily featured President Donald Trump and the label "Paid for by the US Government" began airing. In response, Margaret Dylus-Yukins, senior legal counsel for ethics at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center issued the following statement:

"Federal law prohibits taxpayer resources from being used for the benefit of a candidate, political party or public official. These ads almost entirely revolve around President Trump, who is not a candidate, but who has told voters to act as if he is on the ballot in November. The latest ad is a complete republication of a 2024 Trump campaign ad, and the earlier ad echoes themes and messages that Republicans are pushing this election; neither has any apparent connection to any federal program or service.

"We don't know which agency paid to produce and place these ads, But it's difficult to see what legitimate government purpose is served by spending taxpayer dollars on ads whose only apparent purpose is to promote the president and reinforce his political message weeks before an election.

"At a minimum, this is an appalling abuse of taxpayer dollars, particularly when hundreds of millions of private dollars are already flowing into U.S. elections—and Trump has personally helped raise enormous sums from wealthy special interests for a super PAC devoted to advancing his political agenda."

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The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center advances democracy through law. We safeguard the freedom to vote, defend voters’ right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and work to ensure public trust in our elected officials.

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