Rochon, a federal judge in Manhattan, issued a 40-page opinion Monday explaining her decision to block the ads as likely illegal. Her temporary restraining order bars the ads for 14 days and halts public payments related to airing them while legal challenges proceed. Common Cause and other watchdog groups challenged the campaign in New York.
The ads were financed through a $20 million contract using Customs and Border Protection funds. Trump pledged on Oct. 5 to shift future costs to personal funds and his super PAC, saying he would “pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc.” The White House said he would not reimburse the government for money already spent.