By Mona Austin
The Trump Administration is under fire for allegedly using $1.5 million in taxpayer dollars on propagandized political ads that promote Pres, Donald Trump's record. The White House press office has defended the three ads as public service announcements, comparing them to similar campaigns under previous presidents. It is against federal law to spend taxpayer funds on political ads. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung pushed back against criticism Sunday, accusing the news media of spreading false claims about what he called the administration’s “epic Public Service Announcements.”
But the ads fail to meet two standards that would qualify them as PSAs As a rule, Public Service Announcements are tagged as a public service message to make a distinction that it is not intended for commercial purposes. Secondly, the purpose or intent of a PSA is to appeal to the public's interest and is required to be apolitical. A PSA also usually has a call to action. Given that Trump's ads have been released during the midterm election season the intent is especially questionable. One ad looks like a subliminal promotion of Republicanism and is very similar to the president's 2024 campaign ad.
The scrutiny is coming from Democrats and Republicans...
“You watch all three ads, they’re sheer propaganda,” said Richard Painter, a former White House ethics czar under Pres, George W. Bush told the AP. “This is increasingly looking like what authoritarian governments do to promote their leaders.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican saisd that while he likes the ads, they should not be paid for by the government.
The Ad Council, the foremost organization on non-partisan public messaging uses the following criteria for define and classify an ad as a PSA:
1. Nonpartisan
The campaign does not promote a political party or seek to influence legislation.
2 National
The issue affects the country and is relevant across communities.
3. Crucial
The issue is important and can meaningfully benefit from public communication.
4. Measurable
The campaign tracks results to determine whether it produces meaningful change.
5. Actionable
(The Ad Council
describes its work as nonpartisan communications campaigns designed to address important social issues, inspire action and produce measurable change. Its five criteria for choosing campaigns are: The message gives people practical steps they can take immediately.)
Here is the White House response:
Presidential Public Service Announcements Are Nothing New
The attacks on President Donald J. Trump’s public service announcements are highly dishonest. The announcements are very clearly not campaign ads; President Trump is not on the ballot and there is no call to action. 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.
That’s not partisanship — that’s a government that still believes in the country it serves.
Administrations of both parties have used public service announcements to explain policy and make the case for the nation’s direction:
The G.W. Bush Administration ran a national television campaign explaining the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act to seniors. It also bought Super Bowl airtime for anti-drug and anti-terrorism public service announcements.
The Obama Administration used national advertising to promote Obamacare subsidies and open enrollment, and a digital campaign to sell its Waters of the United States rule.
The Biden Administration poured hundreds of millions of dollars into “We Can Do This” — television, digital, radio, and print spots — to drive a nationwide public health message.
It’s not just modern Administrations. President Woodrow Wilson’s Committee on Public Information used posters, films, and speakers to rally the country. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Office of War Information produced films, radio, and posters to promote the war effort.
When prior Administrations utilized the airwaves, it was called “public education.” When this Administration promotes pride in our country, many of those same voices call it “propaganda.”
Patriotism isn’t partisan. These public service announcements are unapologetically American, clearly disclosed, and aimed at the country — not a line on the ballot.