It is being reported that the Donald Trump political campaign war chest started off the year 2026 with $300 million. That's not counting the PAC money his fabulously well-to-do pals have kicked in. It is strictly donations from individuals and various entities. In addition, it is estimated Donald Trump, and his family have pocketed not quite $4 billion since his second inauguration. Now, we all know the dollar isn't worth as much as it used to be, even a year ago, but still, that's a lot of fucking money.
All of which begs a question. Why are the taxpayers, you and me, paying for the latest round of pro Trump political ads running on television? Has that crazed old coot come up with a scheme to embezzle the campaign funds? Is the family fortune stashed somewhere hard to get offshore? Are the reports of the profits vastly overstated? Or has he gone all Scrooge McDuck and is just so cheap and greedy he'd rather stick us with the tab than pay for them himself? Let's face it, he does have a history of walking into places like ice cream parlors and promising to pay for everyone's meal, then skipping out on the bill.
Well, according to a White House spokesperson the ads aren't ads at all. "These public service announcements are about reminding Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending, at home, at our borders, and abroad. The ads are educational and unapologetically patriotic. We should be proud of our country." Later, another White House toady claimed, "The PSAs are clearly not political. The President is not on the ballot, and the ads don't have a call to action."
What one of them does have is a stern-faced Donald Trump walking down a hall while in the background one of his old speeches is playing. In it he is telling a crowd, "We will cast out the Communists, Marxists, and Fascists. We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country. We will rout the fake news media, and we will liberate America from these villains once and for all."
For those who might have just experienced a dis-orienting moment of Deja vu, no, you aren't going a little off the mental hygene beaten path. In January 2024, during his third run at the White House, the same video showed up on Trump's Truth Social account. The last six seconds of the original ad contained Trump's campaign logo and a phone number to text in your contribution info. In the new version that was replaced with a message saying, "Paid for by the U.S. government."
In another, "PSA," Trump denounces communism and socialism while a rolling texts brags about his administration's accomplishments, including, "reigniting American manufacturing." The music used in the ad is a song by JMSN called, "Love Me." As always, Trump's people failed to get permission to use the song. JMSN, aka, Christian Berishaj, had his lawyers immediately demand that not only the ad be pulled at once, but that Trump and his people never use the song or any of his, "intellectual property," again.
Yet another ad shows Trump at Mount Rushmore telling the audience, "Never before has any nation celebrated so magnificent a triumph as this one." Not to be a critic, but to the casual onlooker it isn't clear if he was talking about the sculptures, or himself.
The ads began running on FOX and Newsmax. By this weekend, USA Today reports they appeared on several college and NFL games, FOX News Sunday, and even Saturday Night Live. All of it happening less than 40 days ahead of a midterm election that is skewing heavily toward the democrats.
Ah yes, clearly not political.
Senate majority leader, John Thune is quoted by CNN as saying, "It's a great message. I like the message, but it shouldn't have been paid for with taxpayer dollars." Texas lame duck Senator--thank you Donald Trump--John Cornyn was asked if the ads were political. His response was, "It's not even a close question." Democratic Congressman, Jamie Raskin was a tad blunter. On social media he wrote, in part, "It may be a felony..." CNN also quoted one former Trump, "campaign official," who said airing the ads at taxpayer expense was, "Dumb, dumb, dumb beyond belief. These guys are all gonna get subpoenaed. It's gonna be bad."
While that remains to be seen (Screw John Gotti, Trump is the real Teflon Don) we do know that as far too many of us struggle to buy groceries and fuel, the President of the United States just made us all contributors to his current political campaign--whether we wanted to or not.
But hey, that's what Klepto-Autocrats do.
9-29-26
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