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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Robert Mackey

Republican senator criticizes White House for taxpayer-funded Trump ads

black and white screengrab of trump in a suit with the caption 'Paid for by the US government'
A screenshot from a pro-Trump ad the US government paid to broadcast in 2026. Photograph: White House

As the White House expands a taxpayer-funded advertising campaign to promote Donald Trump’s political agenda before the November midterm elections, Senator John Kennedy told CBS News on Sunday “there ought to be a rule” against such spending – before tacitly admitting such spending is “probably” illegal.

Kennedy, the US president’s fellow Republican, was asked by Margaret Brennan, the CBS Face the Nation host, about the White House spending to air multiple ads featuring Trump – including one that was produced for his 2024 election campaign.

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