The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is launching what it describes as a series of “digital homepage takeovers” of local newspapers’ websites in cities former President Donald Trump visits, beginning in Atlanta.
The banners, which will appear on various newspaper websites prominently on their home pages, show an unflattering image of Trump next to a declaration that “Trump is a convicted felon whose Project 2025 agenda would ban abortion nationwide.”
It then adds, “no wonder he’s afraid to debate.”
The ad was already being displayed on the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s homepage Friday morning.
Image via DNC
Trump was convicted earlier this year on 34 felony charges stemming from falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to porn actress Stormy Daniels.
Project 2025 is a blueprint from the conservative Heritage Foundation outlining priorities for a Trump presidency, which the former President has attempted to distance himself from. While Trump has repeatedly said he would not support a nationwide abortion ban and favors leaving such decisions to the states, Project 2025 differs. And despite his claims that he had nothing to do with the plan, many of its contributing authors have close ties to Trump.
The advertisements mock Trump for so far refusing to commit to a pre-planned debate on Sept. 10, first by suggesting the ABC-hosted debate should instead be moderated by Fox News, and later by saying he would not commit to any debate until the DNC chooses a nominee.
Vice President Kamala Harris is now the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee after President Joe Biden suspended his campaign and endorsed his No. 2. No other Democrat has emerged to challenge her presidential bid.
Trump has also pushed back on debate plans, arguing he’s up in the polls and voters are already aware of both his and Harris’ campaign platforms.
“Donald Trump boasted he’d debate ‘anytime, anywhere,’ but after 34 felony convictions and one campaign meltdown after another, he’s running scared and attempting to dodge his commitment to a September debate,” DNC Communications Director Rosemary Boeglin said in a statement announcing the latest round of digital newspaper advertisements.
“Trump knows all too well that the more voters hear about his plans to ban abortion nationwide, spike prices for the middle class, and subvert our democracy, the more determined voters will be to reject him in November,” Boeglin added. “Trump’s extreme plans for America are catching up to him and Democrats won’t let him off the hook for his dangerous Project 2025 agenda.”
The DNC, in its press release, said Harris “will proudly stand behind her record and share her positive vision for America’s future” on Sept. 10, adding that “Trump knows the only way he can win is if he hides his dangerous Project 2025 agenda.”
“No matter where Trump is on September 10, voters know where he stands. Meanwhile, Vice President Harris will be on the debate stage to offer America the path forward — giving voters the choice to reject Trump’s MAGA extremism once and for all,” Boeglin said.
The DNC didn’t say which papers or locations the ads would be running, just that they would begin in Atlanta on Friday and run in areas Trump is visiting. Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, are scheduled to hold a rally in Atlanta on Saturday at the Georgia State University Convocation Center.
Next week, on Friday, Trump is expected to host a rally in Bozeman, Montana. His public campaign events calendar does not list any other rallies beyond those.
