Politics
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A TV ad paid for with taxpayer money that reuses President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign spot vowing a “final battle” against the “deep state” aired at least seven times on Maine stations Sunday, putting it among the first airings in the country.
It ran at least four times in the Portland market and three times in the Presque Isle market on Sept. 27, according to AdImpact, which tracks media spending. The Maine airings came through national network buys. Most of its Sunday airings came on Fox during NFL games and on a Fox News program.
It is the latest in a series of taxpayer-funded ads promoting the president ahead of the midterms that the White House maintains are “public service announcements.” Maine is at the center of the map given the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson, which is pivotal to control of the chamber.
The 30-second video, which is virtually identical to one that aired in 2024, shows Trump walking down a hallway as his voice can be heard warning of “globalists” and “warmongers.” The black-and-white video ends with Trump staring straight into the camera with a message that says: “Paid for by the U.S. Government.”
Spending on the latest ad has topped about $319,000 across the country, according to AdImpact. About $2,100 of that was in Maine.
An earlier 30-second spot that began airing on Wednesday features clips of Trump talking about defeating communism interspersed with onscreen text promoting the “largest tax cuts in history,” “reigniting American manufacturing” and a call to “defend law and order and police.” It aired once each in the Portland and Presque Isle markets on Friday, according to AdImpact.
Lawmakers of both parties have criticized the new series of ads for their political nature and the use of taxpayer dollars. The White House maintains they are like the ones used by past presidents, though those previous ads promoted particular policies, not Oval Office occupants.
The White House in a Friday statement defended the use of what it described as “public service announcements” and dismissed criticism of them as “deeply dishonest” because Trump is not on the ballot.
BDN writer Michael Shepherd contributed to this report.