A Biden-appointed federal judge in New York has ordered the Trump administration to pull three of its own ads days before the midterm elections, including one touting President Trump’s promise that every American will get $5,000 if Republicans keep control of Congress, according to the Associated Press as published by PBS News and LiveNOW from FOX.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon ruled Friday that the government must take down the ads titled “$5,000 to Americans,” “Every Democrat Voted Against No Tax on Tips,” and “Cost of Socialism,” PBS News reported. The White House fired back, calling it a “lawless order.”
New York Judge Jennifer L. Rochon blocked the Trump administration from airing three ads that a lawsuit alleged violated restrictions on using taxpayer funds for “publicity and propaganda.” https://t.co/pTGUvsX8Ui
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 31, 2026
What the judge ordered
According to PBS News, Rochon said the three ads must come off official government websites, including social media sites such as YouTube and Instagram. She also ordered the cancellation of any plans to air or distribute the ads through authorized third parties, including President Trump’s flagship super PAC, MAGA Inc., PBS News reported.
The ruling was narrower than what the challengers wanted. A coalition that included the watchdog group Common Cause had asked the court to order at least 13 ads removed, LiveNOW from FOX reported, and Rochon declined to pull the others, according to PBS News.
Rochon noted that the Government Accountability Office has said there are times when the president’s office is entitled to inform the public of its policies, justify them and respond to attacks on them, LiveNOW from FOX reported. The judge said she concluded the government would ultimately prevail on many of the ads because the plaintiffs wanted restrictions that were “broad and far reaching,” according to the outlet.
She also warned she could reverse herself and restore the ads, or ban more of them, after hearing additional evidence in the coming weeks, LiveNOW from FOX reported.
The White House response
“This Biden-appointed activist judge issued a lawless order to stop the administration from sharing patriotic videos,” White House spokesperson Lauren Bis said, as quoted by LiveNOW from FOX.
In court filings, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Oestericher argued there was nothing wrong with White House staff compiling advertisements to “inform the public about his policies and to rebut attacks on those policies and his Administration,” according to LiveNOW from FOX.
Government attorneys are also asking Rochon to exclude MAGA Inc. from the ruling, LiveNOW from FOX reported, arguing the super PAC is not a party to the case and the government does not control how it operates.
LiveNOW from FOX reported that Rochon, who was nominated by former President Joe Biden, once clerked for the late Maryanne Trump Barry, a longtime federal appeals judge and the president’s sister.
The other side
The challengers say the ads crossed a line set by Congress. “Congress has made clear that partisan ads cannot be funded with taxpayer dollars, and we are proud to work with this coalition to earn today’s result,” said Bradley Girard, a lawyer with Democracy Forward, according to LiveNOW from FOX.
Rochon said irreparable harm could result to the plaintiffs if she did not block the ads while the case proceeds, the outlet reported.
Why it matters
The order covers the government and its authorized third parties. It does not bar private citizens from sharing the president’s message, and the $5,000 pledge remains part of the Republican closing argument heading into Tuesday. For many Trump supporters, a Biden-appointed judge ordering the administration’s own messaging offline days before an election will look like one more court stepping into the campaign.
Sources
- PBS News (AP): Judge orders 3 taxpayer-funded Trump administration ads pulled
- LiveNOW from FOX: 3 taxpayer-funded Trump administration ads must be taken down
Sources cited
Sources
- Original post: The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) on X, Oct 31, 2026
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