‘Unacceptable’: Watchdog group responds to UFC’s airing of controversial pro-Trump ad

Last week, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon ordered several MAGA ads be taken down amid concerns they violated laws on taxpayer-funded propaganda.MANHATTAN (CN) — Watchdog group Common Cause is “evaluating further legal action” after it says the UFC aired an advertisement glorifying President Donald Trump ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections — despite a federal judge barring the ad from running last week.It’s an unlikely scenario. Most polling strongly favors Democrats to win at least one chamber.But according to Common Cause, the ad may also cross legal boundaries. The group is suing the Trump administration over its use of taxpayer dollars to produce certain advertisements. Last week, it won an order blocking three ads after U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon found they likely violated laws against taxpayer-funded propaganda.In addition to ordering the ads removed from government websites and social media accounts, Rochon ordered the Trump administration and related PACs “shall cancel or cause to be cancelled any slots, placements, reservations or arrangements for the airing or dissemination” of the clips.The UFC event aired more than 24 hours after Rochon issued her ruling. It is unclear if the ads in question played anywhere else.“This administration has repeatedly pushed the limits of compliance with court orders — both in general and in this case specifically,” Abigail Bellows, Senior Policy Director for Anti-Corruption & Accountability at Common Cause, said in a statement Monday to Courthouse News. “On Friday afternoon, a federal judge ordered the ‘$5,000 to Americans’ ad to be taken down. She made clear that she expected her ruling to be followed immediately, which is why it’s so concerning that ads continued to be run into Saturday. This is unacceptable, and we’ll be evaluating further legal action.”A spokesperson for the DOJ in the Southern District of New York, which is defending the government in Common Cause’s lawsuit, declined to comment. The UFC, Paramount and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Rochon scrutinized the ad in court Friday. In the clip, Trump warns that Democratic control of Congress would have disastrous economic consequences, contrasting that with a promise of $5,000 if Republicans retain both chambers.Common Cause argued the Trump administration unlawfully used funding and manpower from the Executive Office of the President to create and disseminate the ad, violating Section 718 of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which states in part that federal funding cannot be used “for publicity or propaganda purposes.”Rochon agreed, stating from the bench that she was “hard pressed” to see how the government-funded message could be considered anything other than a partisan call for Republican support.“Voters are being directly asked to support one political party over another in an upcoming election,” the judge said.Common Cause sought to block more than a dozen ads, but Rochon agreed to restrict only three.The group initially sued in early October after the Department of Homeland Security diverted $20 million in border security funding to run partisan television ads. Rochon ordered the ads off the air after finding they “provide[d] no information about DHS’s official functions,” despite using agency funds.Friday’s hearing came after Common Cause argued the government was circumventing that order by using funding from the Executive Office of the President instead.The Trump administration has denied the videos are propaganda, calling them public service announcements and patriotic clips celebrating the United States.Trump has long been intertwined with the UFC, the world’s top mixed martial arts organization. He hosted events at his properties in the early 2000s, when the promotion was gaining its footing, and has a longstanding friendship with its frontman, Dana White.White has spoken in support of Trump at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020 and 2024, and Trump has appeared at numerous events over the years — including during his presidency. Earlier this year, Trump partnered with the promotion to hold a fight card on the South Lawn of the White House.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads