Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Friday accused President Donald Trump of illegally spending $430,000 in taxpayer funds to air a 30-second self-promotional advertisement on Fox News, comparing the practice to state propaganda seen in North Korea and calling on the network to remove it from air.
The Post
Sanders published the statement on X at 4:31 p.m. on Sept. 25, 2026. His post, in its entirety, read:
“This is what authoritarianism looks like.
38 days before the midterms, narcissist-in-chief Trump is illegally using $430,000 in taxpayer dollars to run a 30-second ad on Fox praising himself.
This is what you’d see in North Korea, not America.
Fox: Take this bogus ad down.”
Background on the Fox News Advertisement
Sanders’ post came a day after a government-funded advertisement promoting Trump began airing on Fox News. The commercial, which ran during overnight broadcasts of “Jesse Watters Primetime,” “Hannity” and “Gutfeld!,” featured Trump declaring that his administration would defeat “communism, socialism, and Marxism in America,” layered over the song “Love Me” by JMSN. UFC president Dana White also appeared in the spot, describing Trump as one of the most resilient people he has ever met.
The ad carried an on-screen disclosure reading “Paid for by the U.S. Government,” a label that first drew attention after CBS News Miami investigative reporter Jim DeFede posted footage of the commercial to X, noting that it aired during a political program roughly five weeks before the midterm elections.
Reaction From Other Critics
The advertisement drew swift criticism from other political figures and commentators after it aired. CNN chief political analyst David Axelrod argued the spot was intended to boost Trump’s standing ahead of the midterms and suggested Trump should instead use funds from his own political action committee rather than government money.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., went further, suggesting the ad’s production and airing could constitute a felony under federal law governing theft and conversion of government property, and argued it may also violate the Hatch Act, which restricts the use of government resources for political activity.
Sanders’ Broader Pattern of Authoritarianism Accusations
Friday’s post is the latest in a series of statements from Sanders accusing the Trump administration of authoritarian conduct. In January, Sanders issued a formal statement after the administration ordered a pause on federal grants and loans, calling the move “a dangerous move towards authoritarianism” and asserting it was unconstitutional.
In February, Sanders delivered floor remarks in the Senate outlining what he described as the administration’s movement toward “oligarchy, authoritarianism and kleptocracy,” citing the concentration of wealth among billionaires with close ties to the administration.
More recently, Sanders accused Trump of embracing authoritarianism over the administration’s role in Jared Kushner’s involvement in Paramount’s takeover bid for Warner Bros., and separately claimed Trump was pushing the United States and the broader world toward authoritarian governance through his approach to European allies and immigration enforcement.
Related Congressional Scrutiny of Taxpayer-Funded Promotion
Sanders is not the only lawmaker to raise concerns about taxpayer money being used to promote Trump. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has separately released documentation showing federal agencies spent taxpayer funds on large banners depicting Trump displayed on government buildings in Washington, D.C. Schiff’s findings showed the Department of the Interior spent $39,000 on such banners, while the Federal Aviation Administration spent more than $114,000, with Schiff arguing the spending violated federal law prohibiting the use of public funds for propaganda or self-aggrandizement.
Political Context Heading Into the Midterms
Sanders’ statement explicitly ties the advertisement’s timing to the upcoming midterm elections, which are roughly five and a half weeks away. The ad’s appearance comes amid reporting that Trump’s approval ratings have slipped in recent polling, a factor several commentators cited as a possible motivation behind the spot’s release on a network with a large conservative audience.
Fox News’ Response
As of Friday afternoon, Fox News had not issued a public statement addressing calls from Sanders or other critics to remove the advertisement from rotation. It remains unclear whether the network intends to continue airing the spot in the lead-up to the midterms.
What Comes Next
Neither the White House nor Trump’s political operation had issued a public response to Sanders’ accusations as of Friday evening. The controversy adds to a growing list of disputes over the use of federal resources for political messaging ahead of November’s elections, with multiple Democratic lawmakers now on record alleging that taxpayer-funded promotional material tied to the president may violate federal ethics and campaign finance law.