The Democratic National Committee sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over its campaign-style ads.

Why it matters: The DNC alleges the ads, which have drawn considerable backlash as they were originally paid for with taxpayer money, violate several federal laws.

What they're saying: "These ads are a clear violation of the Congressional ban on the use of appropriated funds for 'publicity or propaganda purposes,'" the DNC's legal counsel wrote in the lawsuit.

  • "The president has nationalized the midterm election, made himself the center of a two-day 'midterm convention,' and repeatedly directed voters to 'pretend that I am on the ballot," it added.
  • "As the 2026 midterm election has approached, Republican poll numbers have plummeted in both traditional battlegrounds and typically favorable states, and Democrats are poised to take control of Congress, governors' mansions, and state legislatures around the country."
  • Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Zoom in: The lawsuit alleges the White House crafted the ads to boost the president's approval ratings and help Republican candidates.

  • The complaint largely focuses on its allegation that the ads were paid for with money originally allocated for Customs and Border Protection that was rerouted for the TV spots.
  • The DNC argues that the ads violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the Antideficiency Act, and the Purpose Act.

The DNC asked a federal judge to step in, declare the administration's actions illegal and immediately block them from airing any more ads paid for with taxpayer money.

  • It's not clear how the judge will rule, given President Trump said Monday that a Trump-affiliated super PAC would begin paying for the ads moving forward.
  • A White House spokesperson confirmed Tuesday to Axios that the administration would not repay the government for the ads.

Catch up quick: According to the suit, Trump personally hand-picked the ads that aired on television, which were broadcast to millions of Americans, including during NFL and college football games.

  • The lawsuit says the ads aired "nearly 90 times across national television networks, including Fox, Newsmax, MS Now, and CBS" over four days in late September. Those spots likely cost around $337,000.
  • In that same time period, the ads aired on local television stations at least 2,311 times and those placements cost around $1.4 million, the suit says.
  • Advertisement tracking firm AdImpact estimates that over $2.5 million was spent on the ads the first week they were aired.

Worth noting: Using public funds for campaign ads hasn't sat well with American voters.

  • Nearly nine in ten voters said in a Reuters-Ipsos poll published Wednesday that using taxpayer money for campaign ads featuring a president or Cabinet member is inappropriate.

Go deeper: Scoop: Trump's hand-picked, taxpayer-funded ads about to ramp up

Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout with additional information.