Scoop: Trump's funding freeze becomes ad fodder for Democrats
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Donald Trump at a bill signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 29. Photo: Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A nonprofit group tied to House Democratic leadership is already planning an ad slamming the Trump administration's funding freeze, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), viewing the days-long battle over the freeze as a win for Democrats, has been urging his members to press their advantage and keep hammering the topic.
- The Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday rescinded an earlier memo freezing federal grants, loans and other financial assistance, though the White House said parts of the freeze remain in force.
- The initial memo led to widespread confusion and locked some states out of a federal Medicaid portal.
Driving the news: House Majority Forward, an issue advocacy group closely aligned with Jeffries, is running an ad called "Real Steal" on national cable Monday — including "Fox & Friends" — backed up by a five-figure ad buy.
- The ad accuses Trump and congressional Republicans of causing "chaos, confusion across the country" and cutting funds for healthcare, police and fire departments, and pre-K centers.
- "Trump's grabbing that money to pay back his billionaires with more tax cuts," the ad says. "It's … The Real Steal."
Between the lines: The ad — part of HMF's $10 million "economic accountability" campaign — is a clear signal the short-lived OMB memo will play a prominent role in Democrats' political messaging.
- Jeffries and his messaging arm have encouraged lawmakers to hold events on the freeze and highlight the impact it had on their constituents.
The other side: "President Trump and Republicans hit the ground running, delivering for the American people," said Torunn Sinclair, a spokesperson for the House Republican-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund.
- "Democrats are spewing lies — it's sad and pathetic. They've learned nothing from the 2024 election," Sinclair said.
- A senior White House official said in a statement to Axios: "The American people sent President Trump back to the White House to end the massive waste, fraud and abuse of their hard-earned taxpayer dollars."
- "No amount of fearmongering and falsehoods in this baseless ad will change the excitement the American people feel now that we have true leadership here in the White House," the official said.
