Watchdog presses UFC and Trump team after pulled $5,000 ad aired despite judge's order

A watchdog group says a pro-Trump video ran during a UFC event over the weekend, after a federal judge had ordered it taken down. Common Cause, a government watchdog, says it is "evaluating further legal action." ¹

Viewers of UFC Vegas 123 on Paramount+ saw a message from President Trump promising every American a $5,000 check if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in the midterm election. ¹ Courthouse News reported that most polling strongly favors Democrats to win at least one chamber. ¹

What the judge ordered

U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon ruled on Friday that the ad likely broke a federal law against using taxpayer money for propaganda. She ordered the administration and related political action committees (PACs) to cancel any slots or placements for it. ¹ The UFC event aired more than 24 hours after that ruling. ¹

Common Cause argued that the administration used money and staff from the Executive Office of the President to make and spread the ad. It says that violates Section 718 of a federal spending law, which bars using federal funds "for publicity or propaganda purposes." ¹

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From the bench, Rochon said she was "hard pressed" to see the message as anything but a partisan call for Republican support. ¹ Common Cause had sought to block more than a dozen ads, but the judge agreed to restrict three. ¹

Voters are being directly asked to support one political party over another in an upcoming election,

Abigail Bellows, Common Cause's senior policy director for anti-corruption and accountability, said the administration "has repeatedly pushed the limits of compliance with court orders." She said the judge expected her ruling to be followed immediately. Bellows called it "concerning" that ads kept running into Saturday. ¹

This is unacceptable, and we’ll be evaluating further legal action.

Who has responded

A spokesperson for the Justice Department's office in the Southern District of New York, which is defending the government, declined to comment. The UFC, Paramount and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. ¹ It is unclear whether the ads ran anywhere else. ¹

The administration has denied the videos are propaganda. It calls them public service announcements and patriotic clips celebrating the United States. ¹ No court has yet ruled that anyone violated Rochon's order. That question is now what Common Cause says it is weighing.

How the case began

Common Cause first sued in early October after the Department of Homeland Security diverted $20 million in border security funding to partisan television ads. Rochon ordered those ads off the air, finding they "provide[d] no information about DHS's official functions." ¹ An earlier temporary order, dated Oct. 11, told the administration to cancel remaining ads. ²

Friday's hearing came after Common Cause said the government was getting around that order by paying with Executive Office of the President money instead. ¹

Trump has long been tied to the UFC and to its frontman, Dana White, who spoke for him at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Republican National Conventions. Earlier this year Trump and the promotion held a fight card on the White House South Lawn. ¹

That matters because a court order only works if it is followed quickly, especially days before an election. A judge has found, at an early stage, that voters were being asked to back one party with government resources. Whether anyone faces consequences for the weekend broadcast is now the open question.

The Record

1. Oct 11, 2026Judge Jennifer Rochon issues a temporary order barring use of Department of Homeland Security funds for the challenged pro-Trump ads and directing cancellation of remaining airings ²
2. Oct 30, 2026Rochon orders three ads taken down and their placements cancelled ¹
3. Oct 31, 2026The $5,000 ad runs during UFC Vegas 123 on Paramount+, according to Courthouse News and Common Cause ¹

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<h2>Watchdog presses UFC and Trump team after pulled $5,000 ad aired despite judge&#39;s order</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Investigations Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/watchdog-presses-ufc-and-trump-team-after-pulled-5-000-ad-aired-despite-judge-s">The GOP Files</a> on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.</em></p> <p>A watchdog group says a pro-Trump video ran during a UFC event over the weekend, after a federal judge had ordered it taken down. Common Cause, a government watchdog, says it is &quot;evaluating further legal action.&quot;</p> <p>Viewers of UFC Vegas 123 on Paramount+ saw a message from President Trump promising every American a $5,000 check if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in the midterm election. Courthouse News reported that most polling strongly favors Democrats to win at least one chamber.</p> <h2>What the judge ordered</h2> <p>U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon ruled on Friday that the ad likely broke a federal law against using taxpayer money for propaganda. She ordered the administration and related political action committees (PACs) to cancel any slots or placements for it. The UFC event aired more than 24 hours after that ruling.</p> <p>Common Cause argued that the administration used money and staff from the Executive Office of the President to make and spread the ad. It says that violates Section 718 of a federal spending law, which bars using federal funds &quot;for publicity or propaganda purposes.&quot;</p> <p>From the bench, Rochon said she was &quot;hard pressed&quot; to see the message as anything but a partisan call for Republican support. Common Cause had sought to block more than a dozen ads, but the judge agreed to restrict three.</p> <blockquote><p>Voters are being directly asked to support one political party over another in an upcoming election,</p><p>&mdash; Jennifer Rochon, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of New York</p></blockquote> <p>Abigail Bellows, Common Cause&#39;s senior policy director for anti-corruption and accountability, said the administration &quot;has repeatedly pushed the limits of compliance with court orders.&quot; She said the judge expected her ruling to be followed immediately. Bellows called it &quot;concerning&quot; that ads kept running into Saturday.</p> <blockquote><p>This is unacceptable, and we’ll be evaluating further legal action.</p><p>&mdash; Abigail Bellows, Senior Policy Director for Anti-Corruption &amp; Accountability, Common Cause</p></blockquote> <h2>Who has responded</h2> <p>A spokesperson for the Justice Department&#39;s office in the Southern District of New York, which is defending the government, declined to comment. The UFC, Paramount and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It is unclear whether the ads ran anywhere else.</p> <p>The administration has denied the videos are propaganda. It calls them public service announcements and patriotic clips celebrating the United States. No court has yet ruled that anyone violated Rochon&#39;s order. That question is now what Common Cause says it is weighing.</p> <h2>How the case began</h2> <p>Common Cause first sued in early October after the Department of Homeland Security diverted $20 million in border security funding to partisan television ads. Rochon ordered those ads off the air, finding they &quot;provide[d] no information about DHS&#39;s official functions.&quot; An earlier temporary order, dated Oct. 11, told the administration to cancel remaining ads.</p> <p>Friday&#39;s hearing came after Common Cause said the government was getting around that order by paying with Executive Office of the President money instead.</p> <p>Trump has long been tied to the UFC and to its frontman, Dana White, who spoke for him at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Republican National Conventions. Earlier this year Trump and the promotion held a fight card on the White House South Lawn.</p> <p>That matters because a court order only works if it is followed quickly, especially days before an election. A judge has found, at an early stage, that voters were being asked to back one party with government resources. Whether anyone faces consequences for the weekend broadcast is now the open question.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/watchdog-presses-ufc-and-trump-team-after-pulled-5-000-ad-aired-despite-judge-s">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/watchdog-presses-ufc-and-trump-team-after-pulled-5-000-ad-aired-despite-judge-s.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Courthouse News, “‘Unacceptable’: Watchdog group responds to UFC’s airing of controversial pro-Trump ad” (2026-11-02). courthousenews.com/unacceptable-watchdog-group-responds-to-u
2. NBC Washington, “Judge orders pro-Trump TV ads, taxpayer-funded, off air” (2026-10-11). nbcwashington.com/news/politics/judge-order-pro-trump-tv-ads

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