President Donald Trump’s campaign organization removed a television ad from its YouTube account after questions that it may have violated military policy.
The ad, which Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. announced Monday it would spend $1.5 million airing nationwide, originally included video of National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster shaking Trump’s hand at Mar-a-Lago, in uniform, after he accepted his new position in February.
Larry Noble of the Campaign Legal Center, a watchdog group, tweeted shortly after the ad was published that it seemed to violate military rules against partisan political activity.
Use of LTG McMaster in Trump campaign ad seems to violate intent of military policy against members engaging in partisan political activity. https://t.co/qVs63CBJSm
— Larry Noble (@LarryNoble_DC) May 1, 2017
A new ad on the campaign’s YouTube page, the Washington Post noted, replaces McMaster with video of Trump shaking hands with a factory worker. It is otherwise unchanged.
The Trump campaign did not immediately responded to TPM’s request for comment, nor did a White House spokesperson.
Trump filed 2020 re-election paperwork within hours of his inauguration.
