A U.S. district judge in New York ordered the federal government to remove three taxpayer-funded Trump administration ads from official websites and social media.
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A federal judge in New York ordered the federal government to pull three taxpayer-funded Trump administration advertisements that she said appeared to have been made for political or propaganda purposes.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon ruled Friday that the ads—titled “$5,000 to Americans,” “Every Democrat Voted Against No Tax on Tips,” and “Cost of Socialism”—must be taken down from official government websites, including social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram.
Rochon also ordered the cancellation of any plans to air or distribute the ads through authorized third parties, including through President Donald Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc.
Rochon declined to pull several other ads, after considering a request from a coalition of plaintiffs that included the nonpartisan watchdog Common Cause.
The plaintiffs had sought removal of at least 13 ads, but Rochon ordered the three be pulled “at least for now,” describing the harm that could result if the ads were not stopped while the case proceeds.
In court, she said, “This court can neither postpone an election nor turn back the clock,” and she said the temporary restraining order would stop what she characterized as the administration’s disregard for the law while the court hears the full case.
The White House responded to the ruling through spokesperson Lauren Bis, who said: “This Biden-appointed activist judge issued a lawless order to stop the administration from sharing patriotic videos.”
Rochon was nominated to the court by former President Joe Biden, and she had served as a law clerk for Trump’s sister, the late Maryanne Trump Barry, a longtime federal appeals court judge.
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