Is it just us, or are the vibes in D.C. totally off right now? US senator John Kennedy just went on CBS’s Face the Nation to spill the tea on a growing controversy: the White House is using taxpayer money to run "public service announcements" that are lowkey just ads for Donald Trump.
What’s going on?
Host Margaret Brennan pointed out that these 30-second commercials—which are running on major networks and cable—feature Trump front and center. One spot even uses footage originally produced for his 2024 campaign. Kennedy, a Republican, didn't hold back. When asked if using public funds for these clips is the right move, he made his stance clear: "I don’t think any public official... should spend public money... on private ads for themselves."
Is this even legal?
It’s giving major Hatch Act violation. Democrat congressman Jamie Raskin has suggested that using government resources to produce these ads could actually be a felony, since the law bars federal workers from doing partisan campaign work. Kennedy even admitted that "there ought to be a rule" against it, and suspecting one probably already exists.
This isn't the first time Kennedy has been vocal about this kind of thing. He previously called out Kristi Noem for dropping $220 million in government funds on ads that boosted her own image, calling that move a "masterclass dumb."
Why it matters
At the end of the day, it raises a massive question about where your tax dollars are actually going. Are they funding public services, or are they just fueling a massive campaign machine? Kennedy mentioned he thinks there should also be a rule preventing politicians from naming buildings after themselves while they’re still alive. But as the Face the Nation host reminded him, saying it on TV isn’t the same as actually introducing legislation to put a stop to it. We’ll be watching to see if he actually steps up or if it’s all just talk.
