Watching TV in West Palm Beach in 2025 has become, for many, a surreal experience. At first, the sequence of political and institutional ads, common fare, didn’t raise suspicions. But for more attentive observers, it’s now clear: the intended audience isn’t just average Americans, but a single man: Donald Trump.
In what’s been dubbed the “audience of one,” interest groups, industry lobbies, and even government agencies have poured around $2 million into TV ads aimed solely at the President, hoping to influence his policy decisions.
The mechanism is simple and well-tested: the ads first praise the GOP leader, celebrating his decisions, and only then present requests or proposals. It’s no coincidence that many of these messages have aired on Fox News, Newsmax, and CNN—Trump’s preferred networks, as confirmed by advertising data.
Among the ads aired was one showing the Republican surrounded by a cheering crowd, promising to find cures for cancer and Alzheimer’s. It was sponsored by an organization close to the pharmaceutical industry, which is pushing to repeal a drug pricing regulation introduced under the previous administration.
In another instance, concerned about the impact of future tariffs, automakers broadcast a clear and direct message to the White House occupant, urging him to collaborate in promoting American innovation and manufacturing. According to John Bozzella, president of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the goal is to “reintroduce Republicans to the country’s most important manufacturing sector.”
The logic is clear: capturing Trump’s attention can mean the difference between success and failure. And so, since January, West Palm Beach has become one of the top political advertising hubs nationwide, surpassing cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, despite having fewer than a million viewers.
Not only pro-vaping lobbies and aluminum producers, but even the Department of Homeland Security has joined in. In one ad, Secretary Kristi Noem thanked Trump for defending the borders and promoting deportation policies, reaffirming the priority given to national security. The department later clarified that the campaign was part of an international effort to deter illegal immigration.
Since his return to office, more than a dozen organizations have purchased TV spots solely in Washington and West Palm Beach. Some, like the Medicare Advantage Majority group, have even tracked the mogul’s movements, running ads in New Jersey when he began frequenting his Bedminster golf club.
Joe Corbe, a political communications expert, believes that messages crafted for the Republican leader aim to appear urgent, relevant, and timely. The idea is simple: if perceived as important, they may shape future decisions. After all, American politics continues to be shaped not just in the halls of Congress, but also during commercial breaks on television.
