Paul Krugman made a good case this morning that the ad will hurt Republican candidates.
"I mean, the ad reminds voters that Trump is effectively on the ballot, which is all to the good given his approval rating. Furthermore, the ad has Trump promising to “expel the warmongers,” which is an ironic message given [the unpopularity of his war]."
I say thanks, Mr. President. Let's make this election all about you!
But how and by whom? Almost nothing illegal that this administration has done has ever been to account. And please don't say "vote blue" because they also have several plans in place to void the election if Democrats win.
"The timing, content, and format of the videos all suggest they are covert attempts directed at the success of the Republican party."
This atrocity of a political ad is as OVERT as they come. There is nothing hidden in the message of a lunatic warning of impending doom if he doesn't get his way at the polks.
It's even worse when J.D. Vance uses tax payer dollars to stump for real communists, such as at the 2025 Munich Security Council. A correspondent for Russia-1 commented that it was very nice to hear Vance's very strong speech. However, it's not so much that Vance is in favor of Communism, as he is in favor of supporting the Silicon Valley venture capitalists, including Thiel. And "The most important thing to understand about JD Vance is that he is almost entirely a creation of Peter Thiel" (Duran, 2026, p. 130). Although there are different flavors of their overall objective, the gist of it is to replace democracy, particularly liberal democracy, with a connected network of city states, relying on crypto as common currency, in which techno-intellectual elites would would govern as autocrats. If the AfD and Russia can act as another wedge to break apart the current United Sates bureaucracy, so much the better. It is also worth noting that their 2023 Network State Conference included a video narrated by Jeff Bezos, and a "secret guest," Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation. The Reboot Conference of 2024 included a fireside chat with Brendan Carr, conducted by Mike Solana of Thiel's Founders Fund, (Duran, p. 129). Trump is just flooding the zone to promote the cause. He sees himself as part of that insular coterie that presumes to be above norms, morality or the law. By granting him executive immunity, the Supreme Court apparently agrees.
Excellent discussion. The law appears to be clear. But who will prosecute? Blanche? Ultimately, Trump can pardon anyone he wants, and he can claim “presidential immunity” for himself.
This is intentional. Trump & his “mafia” revel in lawlessness. Violating the Hatch Act and expropriating government funds for political campaigning are central to Trump’s “brand” — of nonconformity, superiority, trolling Democrats, being an iconoclast, and “cheating to win.” Trump claims to be the savvy business genius who knows how to avoid taxes and “use other people’s money” instead of his own. This is just another one of Trump’s “con games.” Indeed, his supporters seem to be unaware that Trump is spending THEIR MONEY — “public funds” — for his own purposes, when Trump has his own billions, and he controls over $400 million of MAGA campaign funds. Trump doesn’t need to steal public funds. He wants to. He’s proud of it.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of criminal activity in this administration, which has total contempt for law.
What we can do is document, document, document. Record all these crimes, complete with names, dates, paper trails, etc.
And most importantly, do not forget, and realize that unpunished crimes will be repeated in the future. To declare that we must "look forward, not backward" is to sell the birthrights of future generations.
Reusing a campaign ad for a government funded (not authorized by Congress) for a "Public Service Announcement" is clearly outside of the scope of what the Supreme Court defined as an official act. If I was AG in '29 this would be one of my first investigations, seems pretty open & shut.
Personally, I can not stand to look at Trump's image or hear his voice. His willful unlawfulness and arrogance enrages me. I am a patriot and Trumpism is destroying our country. Certainly, any remastered 2024 campaign ads he puts out on the airwaves using taxpayers money is an abomination. I agree with Paul Krigman that this will backfire against all Republicans in the Midterms. The GOP was captured by Trump and now it is committing suicide
"lest we invite the creation of an American version of George Orwell’s infamous Ministry of Truth."
Lest? I'm afraid that has already happened. And since when does Trump care whether the Supreme Court (or, indeed, any court) or the Constitution frowns on or prohibits something he wants to do? Since never.
Calling out his lawless behavior is important, I agree, but I don't see it changing his behavior: I see it only leading to new lawsuits, because that is really what Trump is about, lawsuits. As long as something is being tried or being appealed, no decision has been made, and he is free to do whatever he wants.
Why is, "While President Trump himself is legally exempt from the Hatch Act"? Please explain? His directing these ads be executed and run is not part of his "presidential duties." As your piece lays out here so well, it can be easily argued that these ads are promoting not the US government but the Republican Party. In advance, I send my thanks for the insights.
So who can prosecute the people involved immediately and pull down the ads now with an apology
That's the question, isn't it?
What can be done? We are living in a shithole dicktatorship.
It's shameful, isn't it?
Can Fox and Newsmax be compelled to refund the advertising fees and can the federal employees be criminally prosecuted @ Norm Eisen?
Paul Krugman made a good case this morning that the ad will hurt Republican candidates.
"I mean, the ad reminds voters that Trump is effectively on the ballot, which is all to the good given his approval rating. Furthermore, the ad has Trump promising to “expel the warmongers,” which is an ironic message given [the unpopularity of his war]."
I say thanks, Mr. President. Let's make this election all about you!
So who is going to do anything about this abomination?
But how and by whom? Almost nothing illegal that this administration has done has ever been to account. And please don't say "vote blue" because they also have several plans in place to void the election if Democrats win.
He should be stopped now. Right in his tracks.
I’m calling the Whitehouse to say “ I don’t approve that message!” And give me my damn tax dollars back!
"The timing, content, and format of the videos all suggest they are covert attempts directed at the success of the Republican party."
This atrocity of a political ad is as OVERT as they come. There is nothing hidden in the message of a lunatic warning of impending doom if he doesn't get his way at the polks.
It's even worse when J.D. Vance uses tax payer dollars to stump for real communists, such as at the 2025 Munich Security Council. A correspondent for Russia-1 commented that it was very nice to hear Vance's very strong speech. However, it's not so much that Vance is in favor of Communism, as he is in favor of supporting the Silicon Valley venture capitalists, including Thiel. And "The most important thing to understand about JD Vance is that he is almost entirely a creation of Peter Thiel" (Duran, 2026, p. 130). Although there are different flavors of their overall objective, the gist of it is to replace democracy, particularly liberal democracy, with a connected network of city states, relying on crypto as common currency, in which techno-intellectual elites would would govern as autocrats. If the AfD and Russia can act as another wedge to break apart the current United Sates bureaucracy, so much the better. It is also worth noting that their 2023 Network State Conference included a video narrated by Jeff Bezos, and a "secret guest," Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation. The Reboot Conference of 2024 included a fireside chat with Brendan Carr, conducted by Mike Solana of Thiel's Founders Fund, (Duran, p. 129). Trump is just flooding the zone to promote the cause. He sees himself as part of that insular coterie that presumes to be above norms, morality or the law. By granting him executive immunity, the Supreme Court apparently agrees.
Excellent discussion. The law appears to be clear. But who will prosecute? Blanche? Ultimately, Trump can pardon anyone he wants, and he can claim “presidential immunity” for himself.
This is intentional. Trump & his “mafia” revel in lawlessness. Violating the Hatch Act and expropriating government funds for political campaigning are central to Trump’s “brand” — of nonconformity, superiority, trolling Democrats, being an iconoclast, and “cheating to win.” Trump claims to be the savvy business genius who knows how to avoid taxes and “use other people’s money” instead of his own. This is just another one of Trump’s “con games.” Indeed, his supporters seem to be unaware that Trump is spending THEIR MONEY — “public funds” — for his own purposes, when Trump has his own billions, and he controls over $400 million of MAGA campaign funds. Trump doesn’t need to steal public funds. He wants to. He’s proud of it.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of criminal activity in this administration, which has total contempt for law.
What we can do is document, document, document. Record all these crimes, complete with names, dates, paper trails, etc.
And most importantly, do not forget, and realize that unpunished crimes will be repeated in the future. To declare that we must "look forward, not backward" is to sell the birthrights of future generations.
The Consttutional remedy is impeachment and removal from office.
Reusing a campaign ad for a government funded (not authorized by Congress) for a "Public Service Announcement" is clearly outside of the scope of what the Supreme Court defined as an official act. If I was AG in '29 this would be one of my first investigations, seems pretty open & shut.
Personally, I can not stand to look at Trump's image or hear his voice. His willful unlawfulness and arrogance enrages me. I am a patriot and Trumpism is destroying our country. Certainly, any remastered 2024 campaign ads he puts out on the airwaves using taxpayers money is an abomination. I agree with Paul Krigman that this will backfire against all Republicans in the Midterms. The GOP was captured by Trump and now it is committing suicide
"lest we invite the creation of an American version of George Orwell’s infamous Ministry of Truth."
Lest? I'm afraid that has already happened. And since when does Trump care whether the Supreme Court (or, indeed, any court) or the Constitution frowns on or prohibits something he wants to do? Since never.
Calling out his lawless behavior is important, I agree, but I don't see it changing his behavior: I see it only leading to new lawsuits, because that is really what Trump is about, lawsuits. As long as something is being tried or being appealed, no decision has been made, and he is free to do whatever he wants.
After that too, if we're being honest.
Why is, "While President Trump himself is legally exempt from the Hatch Act"? Please explain? His directing these ads be executed and run is not part of his "presidential duties." As your piece lays out here so well, it can be easily argued that these ads are promoting not the US government but the Republican Party. In advance, I send my thanks for the insights.