Trump Administration Ads Face Artist Protest and Regulatory Pushback

Taxpayer-funded television advertisements featuring President Donald Trump came under renewed scrutiny this week after the artist behind a song used in one spot demanded the White House stop using his music, and a watchdog group asked federal regulators to take the commercials off the air.

The three nationally broadcast ads, which celebrate a "golden age of America" and are airing five weeks before midterm elections, have drawn criticism from ethics experts and lawmakers from both parties who question whether public money is being used to promote Trump politically.

Attorneys for Christian Berishaj, who performs as JMSN, sent a cease-and-desist letter to the White House saying his song "Love Me" was used without permission. In an Instagram post, Berishaj said he would "never authorize my music to be used for ANY political agenda or campaign."

Public Citizen filed complaints with regulators arguing the spots are campaign advertisements that should not be produced or distributed with taxpayer resources. The group asked broadcasters to stop airing the commercials and urged federal authorities to investigate whether executive branch officials improperly engaged in partisan political activity.

"These ads are campaign advertisements, which should be produced and distributed on campaign time and without involving taxpayer dollars," the group said.

Democratic Senators Patty Murray and Chris Murphy asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday to answer for the ads, saying the administration had diverted $20 million from the agency for the campaign.

"This administration's defense of using Americans' tax dollars to air these ads is as absurd as it is offensive," they wrote in a letter to Mullin.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the cost of the ads or criticism that they amount to political advertising funded by taxpayers. It has previously defended the spots as "public service announcements" intended to promote patriotism rather than campaign ads. The commercials end with the disclaimer "Paid for by the US Government."

One ad features Trump declaring that "America will never be a communist country" while a chorus repeats the words "love me." Another combines images of Mount Rushmore with footage of Trump praising a "golden age of America." A third describes a "final battle" against the "deep state" and closely resembles one of Trump's 2024 campaign advertisements.

Critics say the spots may violate longstanding restrictions on government propaganda and political activity.