Trump’s minions waste millions of tax dollars on ads kissing his butt
A new report released Wednesday finds that the Trump administration spent about $51 million of taxpayer money on self-aggrandizing ads praising President Donald Trump’s actions on immigration.
The advertising industry analysis group AdImpact determined that the ad campaign focused on the Department of Homeland Security constitutes the largest political advertising expenditure of the year so far.
Most announcements featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem promoting a message like: “Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for securing our border, deporting criminal and illegal immigrants, and putting America first.” »
The messages in the ads are nearly identical to the campaign advertising Trump has adopted since launching his political ambitions in 2015.
DHS Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Axios that the ads are not political and are “a public service announcement urging illegal aliens to leave.” But Trump is mentioned repeatedly in the ads, echoing the style of campaign advertising, very different from traditional government-funded PSAs.
AdImpact also reported that at least $9 million in advertising was spent on Fox News, including audience demographics—mostly older, conservative, white people—do not encounter the presumed target. But it rewards financially the most loyal network in his support for Trump and other Republicans.
Related | Why Trump keeps turning Fox News bullshit into official policy
The political focus of the taxpayer-funded ads echoes recent concerns about DHS videos attacking Democrats that airports are being asked to exploit in response to the government shutdown. Several airports have refused to air videos featuring Noem that falsely allege that “Congressional Democrats refuse to fund the federal government.” In fact, the shutdown is the fault of Congressional Republicans.
The Trump administration has repeatedly used its newfound power to waste taxpayer dollars to support its pet obsessions. Currently taxpayers finance the premises for the construction of the 90,000 square foot Trump Ballroom at the White House and Trump recently announced plans to erect an arch near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.
In May, Noem submitted a budget request for a $50 million jet that would likely be used to transport him across the country for photo sessions she has been directing since she took office.
Aside from spending on DHS propaganda videos, the ads fail to mention the brutal reality of Trump’s anti-immigrant policy agenda.
ICE agents are currently engaged in operations all over America, harassing and kidnapping people—including children. The agency under Noem’s control conducted a campaign of terror against migrant communities, their families and friends.
No amount of advertising, not even a multi-million dollar campaign, will change reality and its long-term effects.
