U.S. taxpayers funded another high-octane, government-sponsored ad across cable news channels premiering Wednesday night, this time promoting President Donald Trump’s war with Iran.
The spot, first flagged by political ad-buying firm Medium Buying, flaunts a flashing series of missile strikes and F-22 jet acrobatics interlaced over bombastic speech from Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States armed forces,” Trump narrates.
Trump’s military conflict in Iran has been deeply unpopular with the American public: Polls consistently find that less than a third of Americans support the war.
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Also unpopular, at least among Washington lawmakers, is the White House’s recent decision to spend millions in taxpayer dollars on midterm advertisements. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have criticized the Trump administration’s recent ad spending as potentially illegal and a misuse of taxpayer funds. Senate Majority Leader John Thune this week called them “a great message” that “shouldn’t be paid for by taxpayer dollars.”
The White House transferred $20 million in Homeland Security funds to bankroll the ads, including one earlier this week that was similar to a 2024 Trump campaign ad.
Reporters asked the president Wednesday about whether the ads, which began running last week, may in fact violate federal anti-propaganda laws. He brushed off concerns and suggested the spots are meant to promote the country rather than his own political interests.
“I’m not promoting myself because I’m not running for office,” he said. “I’m promoting the country.”
A few hours before, the Federal Communications Commission said that taxpayer-funded television ads featuring the president do not raise any red flags.
“There’s nothing in there that strikes me to merit any sort of FCC review or any liability for any broadcaster for running a regular, normal PSA ad,” said FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee.
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