Fox refuses to air tax ad with Trump impersonator

FOX News is refusing to air a Democratic group’s new ad that opposes the Republican tax plan by using an impersonator of President Donald Trump, said an aide to the group.

The thirty-second spot is part of a six-figure buy from the Not One Penny campaign, a coalition of progressive organizations working against the proposal, on FOX News, including on Fox & Friends, the morning show Trump frequently watches.


The ad features an actor who looks like Trump tweeting at a golf country club as a voice-over proclaims, “A president who tells it like it is. That’s what America needs. But when it’s time for Trump to explain why his tax plan gives a big cut to the wealthy, including lucrative breaks for golf course owners and cuts for rich heirs — all worth more than a billion dollars for Trump and his family — why is this president suddenly at a loss for words?”

It’s the second time in recent weeks FOX News has declined to air a liberal-leaning ad. Earlier this month, the network refused to run a spot featuring activist billionaire Tom Steyer calling for Trump’s impeachment, shortly after Trump tweeted in response to the ad when it aired on Fox & Friends.

"FOX News has a policy against taking ads featuring political impersonators," said a network official, who said they had also turned down an ad featuring a Hillary Clinton impersonator in the past.

While the national network has declined to run the ad, local FOX affiliates in Washington and New York have accepted it, said the Not One Penny aide.

The decision comes at a pivotal time for the unpopular tax legislation, as GOP lawmakers sprint to ensure the legislation has enough support in the Senate. The bill passed the Senate Budget Committee on Tuesday. Republicans, led by Trump, are desperate to pass tax legislation before the end of the year.

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It also lands as FOX faces increased scrutiny for its close relationship with the president. Trump regularly tweets about issues raised on Fox & Friends, and the vast majority of his interviews as president have been with FOX properties.

“No matter how desperately President Trump denies the reality — and his friends try to cover up the truth — they can’t escape the fact that this tax plan is a $1 billion tax break for the Trump family at the expense of the middle class,” said Tim Hogan, a spokesman for the Not One Penny campaign, said in response to FOX’s decision.