The request follows Democracy Forward’s federal lawsuit in Manhattan on Thursday and the Democratic National Committee’s suit Wednesday seeking to block the ads. The DNC alleges the campaign violates the federal prohibition on government funded propaganda. AdImpact estimated that taxpayers had spent at least $10.1 million on the campaign by Monday evening, under a $20 million Customs and Border Protection media contract.
Trump said Monday he would pay for future ads personally and through his super PAC, MAGA Inc. More than $100,000 in taxpayer funded airings of a spot about the Maduro raid followed that announcement, AdImpact estimated, with the disclaimer “Paid for by the U.S. Government.” The White House said Trump would not reimburse earlier spending. Vice President JD Vance defended the ads Thursday as providing “transparency to the people,” rather than serving campaign purposes.