WASHINGTON, Oct 12 — US President Donald Trump must cancel any remaining taxpayer-funded television advertisements promoting himself, a federal judge ordered yesterday, following backlash from both sides of the political divide just weeks ahead of crucial midterm elections.

According to US media reports, the Trump administration has used US$20 million (RM81.6 million) from Department of Homeland Security funds to pay for pro-Trump ads.

US District Judge Jennifer Rochon issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the administration from creating or airing such ads for 14 days.

“Defendants shall not enter into, renew, or expand any agreement authorising the development, creation, dissemination, placement, or airing of the challenged advertisements,” Rochon said in the court order.

The plaintiffs alleged the ads “exceed the purposes authorised by Congress and violate restrictions on publicity and propaganda,” according to the court order.

“We are pleased the court acted swiftly to prevent more taxpayer dollars from being used for such blatantly unlawful political propaganda,” the plaintiffs said in a statement issued by Democracy Forward, the nonprofit legal organisation that represents them.

“There is no legal justification — and no precedent — for the president to use the machinery of the government and funds set aside by Congress for other uses to influence electoral outcomes that further his own agenda.”

While Trump is not on the ballot in the November vote, he has been campaigning for Republican candidates he hopes would help the party keep control of Congress.

The White House has defended the use of taxpayer funds, saying the ads were public service announcements.

The first ad, broadcast in late September, featured a song saying Love Me while Trump proclaimed “America will never be a communist country.”

Another ad showed Trump warning of a “final battle” over black-and-white footage of him walking down a hallway, with an onscreen message saying: “Paid for by the US Government.”

The ads have drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.

Democratic Senator John Hickenlooper called the ads “illegal” and “propaganda,” while some senior Republicans expressed reservations.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social last week that he and his political campaign would pay for the ads promoting himself. But the White House later told AFP that the post “was not referring to reimbursement.” — AFP