Trump's taxpayer-funded ad blitz lands in court

The Democratic National Committee sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over its campaign-style ads. Why it matters: The DNC alleges the ads, which have drawn considerable backlash as they were originally paid for with taxpayer money, violate a propaganda law. What they're saying: "These ads are a clear violation of the Congressional ban on the use of appropriated funds for "publicity or propaganda purposes," the DNC's legal counsel wrote in the lawsuit. "The President has nationalized the midterm election, made himself the center of a two-day 'midterm convention,' and repeatedly directed voters to 'pretend that I am on the ballot," it added. "As the 2026 midterm election has approached, Republican poll numbers have plummeted in both traditional battlegrounds and typically favorable states, and Democrats are poised to take control of Congress, governor's mansions, and state legislatures around the country." Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Zoom in: The lawsuit alleges the ads were crafted by the White House to boost the president's approval ratings and assist Republican candidates. The complaint largely focuses on its allegation that the ads were paid for with money originally allocated for Customs and Border Protection that was rerouted for the TV spots. The DNC argues that the ads violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the Antideficiency Act, and the Purpose Act. Go deeper: Scoop: Trump's hand-picked, taxpayer-funded ads about to ramp up Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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