The White House has launched another taxpayer-funded television ad before the midterms, featuring President Donald Trump walking down a hall while audio plays of him stating, “this is the final battle.” In the commercial, Trump declares, “We will cast out the communists, Marxists, and fascists. We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country. We will rout the fake news media, and we will liberate America from these villains once and for all,” echoing remarks from his 2023 Veterans Day speech.
Broadcast and Origin
- The ad appeared during at least two NFL games on Sunday, including broadcasts of the Washington Commanders-Seattle Seahawks matchup and the Carolina Panthers-Cleveland Browns game.
- This spot is nearly identical to a video posted on Truth Social in January 2024. While the Truth Social version includes a campaign logo and a text-message prompt, the government-funded version replaces them with an on-screen “Paid for by the US Government” disclaimer.
- It marks the third government-funded advertisement identified by the media tracker AdImpact in recent days.
Administration Defense and Criticism
The Trump administration has faced scrutiny for airing these spots just over a month before the November elections. The White House defends the commercials as “public service announcements” meant to promote national pride, comparing them to previous administrations’ efforts to explain Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, or Covid-19 vaccinations. A spokesperson insisted the spots “are very clearly not campaign ads,” describing them as “educational and unapologetically patriotic.”
Additional Government Ads
- One prior ad featured edited footage of Trump denouncing communism and socialism, with text touting his administration’s accomplishments, such as “reigniting American manufacturing.”
- A second spot showcased Trump at Mount Rushmore, with his voiceover claiming, “Never before has any nation celebrated so magnificent a triumph as this one.”
The government watchdog group Common Cause has challenged these advertisements, suggesting they may violate rules against using taxpayer dollars for “propaganda.” Carol Evans, the vice president for policy at Common Cause, stated, “I don’t think you have to be a legal scholar and wonder why the president has to use taxpayer funds to promote his image” so close to an election.
