Dems Launch 'Penalties for Propaganda Act' Over Trump Ads
Sen. Patty Murray and top Democratic appropriators introduced a bill Thursday that would slash the OMB director's budget by $20 million every time taxpayer dollars fund political ads. The administration has spent at least $2.9 million on pro-Trump spots — which the White House calls public-service announcements.
Senate Democrats are going after the Trump administration's TV ads. Sen. Patty Murray, vice chair of the Appropriations Committee, introduced the "Penalties for Propaganda Act" on Thursday with top Democratic appropriators — a bill that cuts OMB Director Russ Vought's budget by $20 million each time taxpayer money is used for what the bill defines as propaganda.
The trigger: at least $2.9 million in taxpayer funds spent in recent days on ads celebrating Trump, per AdImpact. The first spot began airing September 23, showing Trump vowing to protect Americans from "communism, socialism, and Marxism" over a chorus singing "love me." Two more followed, including a repurposed 2024 campaign ad. Murray called them "North Korea-style propaganda" and said "not a cent of Americans' hard-earned tax dollars should ever be used to run political ads glorifying the president."
The White House tells a different story: the spots are public-service announcements meant to promote national pride, clearly labeled "paid for by the U.S. government." Reps. Jamie Raskin and George Whiteside have separately asked federal watchdogs to investigate the spending. Murray herself notes that "Democrats and Republicans alike" have objected to the ads — this fight isn't going away quietly.