Politics
Federal Judge Keeps Trump Administration Ads Off Air Through Election Day
A federal judge extended a restraining order blocking ads that promote President Donald Trump and his second term. The challengers say spots continued airing after the court’s initial order, including on television and the White House YouTube account.
A federal judge on Wednesday extended an order blocking Trump administration ads promoting President Donald Trump and his second term, keeping them off the air through Election Day as a legal challenge proceeds.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon issued the initial order Sunday. The organizations challenging the ads then told the court that broadcasts continued after the order took effect and that material was uploaded to the White House’s YouTube account, which they said violated the directive.
In a court filing Wednesday, the coalition said the ads had appeared in hundreds of television spots. It reported that, as of 2:45 p.m. Monday, one spot had aired 20 times, a second 11 times and a third once.
The groups, represented by the Campaign Legal Center, argue the government-funded promotion amounts to improper political advertising. Critics have compared the spots—which promote the president and his second term—to taxpayer-funded campaign material.
“We are very pleased that the court extended the temporary restraining order, the emergency relief that we had already received in this case, to ensure that the plainly illegal ads remain off the air and clear of further dissemination,” said Renata O’Donnell, the center’s senior legal counsel for strategic litigation.
The dispute puts a spotlight on the boundary between government communications and political promotion, particularly during an election period. The allegations about continued broadcasts and online posting were made by the challengers; the available details do not include a response from the administration.