Thomas Massie
Role at the time: U.S. representative from Kentucky
Condemned
Statement summary
Thomas Massie criticizes government payment for Trump-promoting television ads by comparing it to conduct in banana republics.
“Don’t worry, using taxpayer dollars to run ominous campaign ads of the President has been done before and is completely legal… in banana republics.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Thomas Massie criticizes taxpayer-funded Trump ads on XOriginal post, September 27, 7:57 PM Eastern; quoted Medium Buying post
Massie uses a banana-republic comparison to criticize government payment for the ads. He quotes an identified television airing.
Why we used this label
The comparison and sarcasm condemn the spending rather than endorse its legality.