US FCC Chair Says Government Ads Featuring Trump Do Not Raise Concerns
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The chair of the US Federal Communications Commission said on Wednesday that taxpayer-funded television ads featuring President Donald Trump are not improper and do not raise any red flags.
Democratic lawmakers said the White House transferred $20 million in Homeland Security Department funds to air the ads, including one that closely resembles a 2024 Trump campaign ad.
"There's nothing in there that strikes me to merit any sort of FCC review or any liability for any broadcaster for running a regular, normal (public service announcement)," said FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Republican who was named head of the agency by Trump in January 2025.
Ethics experts and lawmakers from both parties have criticized the three nationally broadcast ads, which celebrate a "golden age of America" and are airing five weeks before midterm elections.
Trump defended the ads on Wednesday. "I'm not running for office," he said. "If somebody said that that's wrong, I'll gladly pay the money. But, but these are ads for the country. ... I'm not promoting a candidate. I'm not promoting myself because I'm not running for office."
Lawmakers have questioned whether public funds are being used to promote Trump politically, while other critics say the spots may violate longstanding restrictions on government propaganda and political activity.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, criticized the ads. "This administration has launched an aggressive effort to influence the outcome of the midterm elections," Gomez said.
Public Citizen filed a complaint with the FCC arguing the spots are campaign advertisements that should not be produced or distributed with taxpayer resources.
One ad features Trump declaring that "America will never be a communist country" while a chorus repeats the words "love me." Another combines images of Mount Rushmore with footage of Trump praising a "golden age of America."
A third describes a "final battle" against the "deep state" and closely resembles one of Trump's 2024 campaign advertisements.
The ads end with a disclaimer saying they were paid for by the US government.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gaffen and Sanjeev Miglani)
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