Trump Administration Airs Taxpayer-Funded Ad on Iran War
The Trump administration has launched another taxpayer-funded advertisement, this time focusing on the seven-month-long war with Iran. The commercial, obtained by ad-tracking firm Medium Buying and shared on social media Wednesday, features audio of President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over footage of U.S. military operations, including unclassified strikes.
In the ad, Trump warns the Islamic Republic, "This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States." Hegseth adds, "If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on Earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation and we will kill you." The defense secretary also states, "We didn't start this war, but under President Trump we are finishing it."
The commercial concludes with Trump urging the Iranian people to "take over their government" once the U.S. military operation ends, a message he first delivered in the early days of the conflict. The war, which Trump initially predicted would last about a month, has now reached its seventh month with no public indication of a lasting agreement to stop the fighting. A recent CNN/SSRS poll found that nearly two-thirds of respondents believe the U.S. is not winning the conflict.
The ad carries a disclaimer stating, "Paid for by the U.S. government," making it one of several taxpayer-funded commercials the administration has released in recent weeks. Another ad shows Trump saying, "Together we will defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America," with the song "Love Me" by JMSN, whose real name is Christian Berishaj, playing in the background.
Reports indicate the administration has redirected Department of Homeland Security funds to pay for these ads, prompting Senate Democrats to raise concerns on Wednesday. Under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, public officials are prohibited from using taxpayer money for campaign purposes.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) commented Monday that the anti-communism message in one ad was "great," but argued it should not be funded by taxpayers. The White House has defended the commercials, saying in a Friday release that they are "clearly not campaign ads" because the president is not on the ballot in November. Trump has told voters to "pretend" he is on the ballot in the midterms.
"Instead, the announcements are a reminder for Americans to love their country and know why it's worth defending — at home, at the border, and abroad," the White House said. "That's not partisanship — that's a government that still believes in the country it serves."
Trump also said Wednesday that the ads are "for the spirit of the country" and do not promote any candidate. "These are ads for the county. … I'm not promoting myself because I'm not running for office. I'm promoting the country," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
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