New White House ad campaign draws protests from President Trump’s opponents
WASHINGTON (CBS, KYMA) - A new White House ad campaign, airing on CBS and other channels, is drawing protests from President Donald Trump's opponents.
The TV spots said, "Paid for by the U.S. government," with critics saying they look like campaign ads for the president.
In new ads hitting the airwaves this week, the Trump Administration flaunted what it thinks are some of its biggest accomplishments.
However, the ads were paid for by the U.S. government, and that's raising concerns on Capitol Hill.
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) slammed them as a waste of taxpayer money, saying, "He's got hundreds of millions of dollars in his campaign account. It shouldn't come off the taxpayers' back."
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) further said he believes the ads may be criminal, and are "blatantly unethical," while the White House insisted the videos are "public service announcements…about reminding americans to love their country"
However, legal scholars draw a fine line between PSAs and political campaign ads.
"When you look at the timing of the ads, they're not tied to a government program. It looks, frankly, like they're most closely tied to the midterm elections," said Jessica Levinson, CBS News legal analyst.
The Trump Administration has previously come under fire for its ad campaigns, with one starring then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that cost taxpayers over $200 million, a chunk of that going to a company run by one of her close friend.
The White House said President Trump did not sign off on those ads.
In March, Sen. Rosen introduced legislation banning cabinet secretaries from appearing in government ads.
On Thursday, she amended her bill to also ban the president and vice president from appearing in any taxpayer-funded television advertising.
"So we have to even be harsher and remind them that no one is above the law," Rosen explained.
The singer whose music is featured in the ad released a statement saying he never gave any authorization for it to be used, adding, "I would never authorize my music to be used for any political agenda or campaign."
