Federal Ads for Trump Continue as Agents Search Omar Home

As the United States approaches the 2026 midterm elections, taxpayer-funded advertisements promoting President Donald Trump remain on the air despite a federal judge's order to remove them, while federal agents have searched Rep. Ilhan Omar's home in Washington, D.C., as part of a separate investigation into alleged immigration fraud, according to NPR's October 13 report.

An NPR analysis of AdImpact data found that the government had spent nearly $22 million on the advertising campaign since it began in late September. Almost $10 million was spent after Trump pledged on October 5 to have his MAGA Inc. super PAC fund the campaign privately.

The White House has characterized the advertisements as public service announcements. However, Common Cause and other plaintiffs argued in a lawsuit that the spending lacked congressional approval and violated restrictions on taxpayer-funded publicity and propaganda.

Trump has intensified his campaign appearances ahead of the midterm elections, holding a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on October 12 and planning to travel to Alaska on October 13. Additional events are scheduled for later in the week, as he urges supporters to vote by imagining that he himself is on the ballot.

NPR correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben said Trump's rallies continue to resemble his presidential campaign events, featuring claims about his accomplishments, enthusiastic supporters, and attacks on Democrats. She also noted that the appearances reinforce his position as the central figure in the Republican Party despite declining approval ratings.

Republican candidates, including Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Jon Husted, have appeared alongside Trump at events that drew enthusiastic audiences. However, Kurtzleben said the electoral benefits of campaigning with the president remain unclear.

Separately, federal agents searched Omar's Washington home on the morning of October 12. Omar, a Democrat representing Minnesota, described the search as politically motivated by the Trump administration.

The Department of Justice told NPR that Homeland Security Investigations agents had "executed a judicially authorized search warrant," approved by the department, as part of an ongoing federal investigation.

Current and former federal officials familiar with the search, who were not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed that the multiyear investigation includes whistleblower complaints and focuses on allegations of immigration fraud.

Omar's neighbor, 79-year-old Sharon Jackson, told NPR correspondent Luke Garrett that loud knocking woke her at approximately 4:30 a.m. on October 12. Jackson described seeing vans and agents wearing gloves moving to and from the congresswoman's home.

Vice President JD Vance has previously accused Omar of immigration fraud, allegations she denies. Omar is a U.S. citizen who arrived in the country as a refugee from Somalia.

In a social media statement, Omar said Trump had targeted her with smear campaigns for a decade and vowed not to be silenced. Trump has said he is not involved in the investigation.

Beyond the political developments, the United States is experiencing its worst measles resurgence in decades. More than 3,600 confirmed cases and two deaths had been reported by late September, according to the report, with outbreaks in multiple states raising concerns about exposure in public places and during travel.

Nearly all reported U.S. measles cases involve unvaccinated people. Health guidance cited by NPR states that two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine provide protection, while the virus can remain in contaminated air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.

NPR also reported that Robert Hall of Stanford University and Michael Woodford of Columbia University received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for research on managing economic boom-and-bust cycles to reduce inflation and unemployment. Meanwhile, Trump's new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, was scheduled to hold her first press briefing on October 13.