Taxpayer dollars from the Department of Homeland Security were used to run televised commercials promoting President Donald Trump, according to sources. The ads, which aired on networks including Fox News and during NFL games, state they were paid for by the U.S. government. This expenditure has drawn scrutiny from members of both parties, as federal law prohibits the use of public funds for government-sponsored publicity or propaganda.

The administration has spent at least $1.7 million on at least three different spots just weeks before the midterm elections. While the White House defends the videos as public service announcements, Senator Thom Tillis and Representative Thomas Massie have likened the practice to authoritarian regimes and "banana republics." Additionally, attorneys for the singer JMSN have issued a cease-and-desist letter to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, claiming the song "Love Me" was used in the ads without authorization.