A television commercial tagged “paid for by the U.S. government” began airing this week on conservative cable networks, splicing footage of President Donald Trump and military aircraft with a boast about “the largest tax cuts in history” and a declaration that “America will never be a communist country.” It aired on Fox News; broadcasts were reported in Los Angeles and Chicago.
The commercial closes with UFC CEO Dana White praising Trump’s toughness, set against a soundtrack in which singer JMSN repeats the words “love me,” according to Newsweek. The spot touts tax cuts and declares that America will never be a communist country. Exactly which federal agency authorized and funded the ad buy remains unclear.
Requests For Comment Go Unanswered
News4JAX reported that the White House, Fox News and Newsmax did not return requests for comment about the spot or who within the government approved it.
Raskin Cites Hatch Act and Felony Theft Law
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said the advertisement violates the Hatch Act, according to the same account carried by News4JAX.
Separately, the Hatch Act of 1939 bars executive branch employees from using their official authority or government resources for partisan political activity. Violations are enforced by the Office of Special Counsel, which can pursue Merit Systems Protection Board penalties ranging from reprimands and suspensions to five-year federal employment bans or civil fines up to $1,000, per the Legal Information Institute. The president and vice president are exempt from the Hatch Act.
A Hatch Act Complaint Against Blanche
Hoodline reported that Attorney General Todd Blanche faced a Hatch Act complaint, filed by Public Citizen, after praising Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman at a gathering alongside Trump in Nassau County, New York, that the White House described as an official appearance to announce crime statistics.
Republicans Take Different Approaches to Trump
Hoodline reported this week that Florida Rep. Byron Donalds scrubbed Trump references from his campaign website.
Trump's political operation is not pulling back everywhere, however. His aligned political group, MAGA, Inc., launched a $10 million television and digital ad blitz in September to boost Republican Ken Paxton's Texas Senate campaign, according to Newsday.
