Trump Is Facebook's Biggest Spender on Political Ads (Study)

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President Donald Trump isn’t just a fan of Twitter. He is also Facebook’s biggest spender on political advertisements, a recent study by New York University researchers showed.

Researchers mined the social network’s new archive of political ads. And since Trump’s push for reelection in 2020 is underway, with his campaign, along with the “Make America Great Again” political action committee, he has spent an estimated $274,000 on Facebook ads since May, according to the study.

Those ads have hit 37 million users on Facebook, NYU researchers reported. Trump has outspent the next closest political advertiser, Planned Parenthood, by more than $85,000. Altogether, the Trump campaign has pushed about 9,500 ads in the last two months.

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“So long as I’m your President, ICE WILL ALWAYS DEFEND OUR COUNTRY! We must stop the Left NOW,” reads one Trump ad reviewed by TheWrap on Wednesday.

One of the thousands of Trump political ads on the social network (via Facebook)

“I’ve said it before and I will say it again: the Mainstream Media is out to bring down my Administration,” reads another Trump ad, before asking his supporters to take a “media accountability” survey.

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The study didn’t have a final tally on spending by Republican and Democratic politicians, NYU researcher Damon McCoy told the New York Times, although they plan to collect those figures going forward.

Facebook launched its archive of political advertisements in May. It’s an extension of the company’s efforts to be more transparent when it comes to ads, after Russian trolls leveraged the platform in 2016 to spread misinformation. Facebook now requires political advertisers to verify their identity before starting marketing campaigns, including confirming their U.S. location via postcards.

10 Most Shocking Russian Troll Posts on Facebook and Instagram, From Hillary Clinton to Police Brutality (Photos)

The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.
House Intelligence Committee
Many posts pushed the narrative that Hillary Clinton would confiscate guns if she were elected President.
House Intelligence Committee
This graphic meme painted cops as KKK members attacking a young black child.
House Intelligence Committee
Only "sissies" and other undesirables wouldn't support Donald Trump, many of the memes said.
House Intelligence Committee
President Obama was a "pawn" and "traitor" in the hands of "Arabian Sheikhs," said one 2016 ad.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Black Matters US" page touched on hot button issues like police shootings.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Army of Jesus" page shared a bible verse, along with this meme.
House Intelligence Committee
Russian trolls also used Instagram to spread sponsored political memes.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Blacktivist" page routinely shared memes on Colin Kaepernick and other football players kneeling during the national anthem.
House Intelligence Committee
"Heart of Texas" routinely posted on "Killary Rotten Clinton," and threatened to secede from the union if she won the election.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Being Patriotic" page labeled ex-cons as "Obama voters."
House Intelligence Committee

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Congress just released 3,500 posts touching on a myriad of topics

The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.

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