DHS Commits $20 Million To Taxpayer-Funded Pro-Trump Ads As Legal Scrutiny Grows
On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Homeland Security committed $20 million from the One Big Beautiful Bill appropriation to fund taxpayer-paid pro-Trump television and streaming ads, touching off legal and congressional scrutiny.[1]
The same day, attorneys for artist JMSN sent a cease-and-desist to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, alleging federal copyright violations over the use of his song "Love Me" in one of the ads.[2] Sens. Patty Murray and Chris Murphy sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding answers within 48 hours about the spending, contracts, and any conversations with President Trump.[1]
Advertising tracker AdImpact estimates almost $2.5 million was spent over the past seven days on at least three taxpayer-funded spots, though the White House classifies them as public service announcements.[2] One spot features "Love Me" under footage of President Trump, touts tax cuts and support for manufacturing and law enforcement, and ends with a testimonial from UFC CEO Dana White.[2] A 30-second spot titled "Final Battle" closely mirrors a January 2024 Trump campaign video, changing only the closing logo to "Paid for by the U.S. Government." CBS News
House Democrats including Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Henry Cuellar say Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought moved the $20 million out of Homeland Security accounts on September 19, 2026 to pay for the ads.[1] Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and John Thune also criticized the campaign messaging and said it should not be funded by taxpayers.[1] A White House official told CBS News the spots are "clearly not political" and described them as public service announcements.[2]
JMSN is represented by former Obama White House ethics czar Norman Eisen, Democracy Defenders Action, and law firm Ballard Spahr, and his lawyers demanded a written accounting of every airing and the total media spend.[2] The ads are running during high-viewership college football and NFL broadcasts and carry an on-screen disclaimer that they are "Paid for by the U.S. Government." PBS
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📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, attorneys for JMSN sent a cease-and-desist to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles demanding the administration stop using his song "Love Me" in a taxpayer-funded ad, alleging federal copyright violations and demanding withdrawal, removal of online versions, and a written accounting of every airing and media spend (JMSN).
- JMSN is represented by former Obama White House ethics czar Norman Eisen, Democracy Defenders Action, and the law firm Ballard Spahr LLP (Norman Eisen).
- Advertising tracker AdImpact estimates at least $2.5 million was spent over the past seven days on three taxpayer-funded Trump ads across broadcast, cable and streaming, while DHS has committed $20 million from the One Big Beautiful Bill appropriation to the campaign, according to a September 29, 2026 letter from Sens. Patty Murray and Chris Murphy to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin that demands answers within 48 hours (Sens. Patty Murray and Chris Murphy).
- House Democrats, including Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Rep. Henry Cuellar, say Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought moved the $20 million out of Homeland Security accounts on September 19, 2026 to fund the ads (Russ Vought).
- One ad at issue features the song "Love Me" under video of President Trump with text about defeating communism, socialism and Marxism, touts his tax cuts and support for manufacturing and law enforcement, and ends with a testimonial voiceover from Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White (Love Me).
- A 30-second spot called "Final Battle" copies a January 2024 Trump campaign video almost verbatim—changing only the closing logo to "Paid for by the U.S. Government"—and the ads generally echo GOP midterm slogans and appear to risk violating federal restrictions on using appropriated funds for propaganda because they do not promote any specific government program or service (Final Battle).
- The ads are airing during high-viewership programming, including college football and NFL broadcasts, and run with an on-screen disclaimer stating they are "Paid for by the U.S. Government" (college football and NFL broadcasts).
- A White House official told CBS News the ads are "clearly not political" and described them as public service announcements paid for by the U.S. government; the White House had not commented on the cease-and-desist as of September 29, 2026 (the White House).
- Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and John Thune criticized the ads and said they should not be funded by taxpayers, adding bipartisan opposition to the campaign-style messaging (Thom Tillis and John Thune).
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Sens. Patty Murray and Chris Murphy sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stating that DHS has committed $20 million from the One Big Beautiful Bill appropriation to pay for the pro-Trump ad campaign.
- The senators say the $20 million was supposed to go to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and demand answers within 48 hours on whether DHS plans additional ad spending, including contract details and any conversations Mullin had with President Trump about using taxpayer funds.
- The article confirms that, over the past seven days, at least $2.5 million has already been spent on three ads according to AdImpact, while DHS’s total commitment is $20 million.
- House Democrats, including Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Rep. Henry Cuellar, assert that Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought moved the money out of Homeland Security accounts on September 19, 2026, to fund the ads.
- The piece details that the ads echo GOP midterm slogans, include a "Final Battle" spot closely modeled on a 2024 Trump campaign video, and appear to violate federal restrictions on using appropriated funds for propaganda because they do not promote any specific government program or service.
- Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and John Thune are quoted criticizing the ads and saying they should not be funded by taxpayers, adding bipartisan opposition to the campaign-style messaging.
- The article notes the ads are airing during high-viewership programming, including college football and NFL broadcasts, and that they run with an on-screen disclaimer stating they are "Paid for by the U.S. Government."
- On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, attorneys for artist JMSN (Christian Berishaj) sent a cease-and-desist letter to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles demanding that the administration stop using his song "Love Me" in a taxpayer-funded ad.
- The letter alleges that use of "Love Me" in the ad violates federal copyright law and demands that the White House withdraw the ad from all scheduled airings, remove all online versions using the track, and provide a written accounting of every airing and online posting including date, time, network or station, market, program, and total media spend.
- JMSN is represented by former Obama White House ethics czar Norman Eisen, Democracy Defenders Action, and law firm Ballard Spahr LLP.
- Advertising tracking firm AdImpact estimates the combined spend for at least three distinct taxpayer-funded Trump ads at almost $2.5 million across broadcast, cable and streaming, though the exact total is unknown because the White House classifies the ads as public service announcements.
- One ad at issue features "Love Me" under video of President Trump and text about defeating communism, socialism and Marxism, touts his tax cuts and support for manufacturing and law enforcement, and ends with a testimonial voiceover from Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White.
- JMSN publicly stated on X that he never granted a license for political use of his music and that he would not authorize his songs for any political agenda or campaign.
- A White House official previously told CBS News the ads are "clearly not political" and described them as public service announcements paid for by the U.S. government; the White House has not yet commented on the cease-and-desist letter.
- The article notes that another 30-second taxpayer-funded spot, "Final Battle," copies a January 2024 Trump campaign video almost verbatim, changing only the closing logo to "Paid for by the U.S. Government."