Taxpayer-Funded Pro-Trump Ads Air on CNN, MS NOW Amid White House Feud

The Trump administration is purchasing advertising time on CNN and MS NOW, two networks President Donald Trump has sought to exclude from the White House, despite the ads not yet airing nationally on MS NOW. This arrangement places the administration in business with networks it has previously criticized. Trump has frequently dismissed MS NOW's ratings, even as his administration is paying for viewership on the platform.

The government allocated 10 ad placements on CNN and 38 on MS NOW, part of a broader campaign estimated to cost at least $2.87 million, according to The Washington Post. An MS NOW spokesperson confirmed that the spots that have already aired were not overseen by the national network and that the ads were reviewed under Versant's advertising standards, which permit divergent political content.

Versant also outlined circumstances under which ads could be rejected, such as content that is overly offensive or personal attacks. Both networks have maintained their critical stance towards the taxpayer-funded campaign, questioning its purpose, funding, and legality. This comes amid an ongoing legal dispute over the networks' access to the White House.

CNN was recently denied entry to the White House TV pool, even though a federal judge had temporarily restored access to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico last week. The White House also barred CNN from traveling on Air Force One last weekend, leading other networks to decline providing coverage. The campaign has raised concerns over its cost and political messaging ahead of the November midterm elections.

The ads prominently feature Trump, who has characterized them as public-service announcements promoting patriotism. Democratic Representatives Jamie Raskin and George Whitesides have called for investigations into potential violations of federal restrictions on using government resources for political purposes. The spending for this campaign amounted to roughly $20 million in Department of Homeland Security funds, according to Reuters.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated on Wednesday that the ads do not warrant an FCC review. Trump has defended the campaign, arguing that the spots are not election advertising because he is not on the ballot.