Trump-linked PAC ad misleads voters on Minnesota taxes

The 'No Going Back' political action committee aired a television spot on Friday that claims Democratic congressional challenger Jake Johnson wants to raise taxes by 24 percent. The ad asserts this move would cost local families $1,500 out of pocket. KSTP 5 Eyewitness News graded the commercial a C-minus, noting it blends true, false, and misleading statements.

The campaign vehicle is connected to President Donald Trump's MAGA operation and has raised $200 million to support Republican candidates nationwide. The ad links Johnson to former Governor Tim Walz, who endorsed the candidate through his Small Town PAC. Both men previously served in the First District, a connection the spot uses to group their policy stances.

The commercial claims Walz and Johnson promoted Somali immigration while committing rampant government fraud. Fact-checkers found no evidence that either politician specifically promoted immigration from Somalia. The claim about fraud was not disputed in the initial review, but the immigration assertion lacked supporting documentation in the ad's context.

The tax figures in the ad stem from a 2025 memo by the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. That document projected a 24 percent increase for First District families if temporary tax cuts expired. However, Congress passed the 'Big Beautiful Budget Bill' more than a year ago, which extended those cuts. This legislative action rendered the ad's central tax warning outdated.

Johnson's campaign positions him as a fiscal conservative. He signed a 'Taxpayer Protection Pledge' during the race, calling for a tax code that is fairer for working families. The pledge specifically proposes tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations, directly contradicting the ad's narrative of a tax hike.

The 'Truth Test' grading system rates ads based on accuracy and context. An A requires near-perfect precision, while a C reflects inaccurate or exaggerated information that misleads viewers. The spot fell into this middle category because the tax claim, though based on a real document, ignored a subsequent law that changed the financial reality for voters.

The ad continues to air in the First District as Johnson faces Republican opponents. The PAC has deployed its $200 million war chest across multiple states. Johnson has not yet released a paid response to the specific tax claims, though his campaign website maintains the pledge text.