Political group launches anti-Trump ad campaign in Nebraska

A political advocacy group opposed to President Donald Trump is targeting Nebraska and 16 other states in a $15 million ad campaign. “Home of the Brave” launched its campaign Monday, hoping to educate and mobilize Nebraskans.

The campaign will feature billboards and video ads highlighting the administration’s tariffs, the war in Iran, the One Big Beautiful Bill and other policies they say have contributed to the affordability crisis.

“It rests on us, the American people, to be the ones speaking out and voicing our concerns and pushing back on these policies,” Sarah Matthews, spokesperson for “Home of the Brave” said. “(We should be) putting the pressure on our lawmakers to push back on Trump, something that we haven't often seen members of Trump's own party do.”

The ad campaign illustrates price increases for gas, groceries and more. Matthews said the campaign is intended to turn any hopelessness around affordability into action by spurring people to call their lawmakers and pushing them to pursue reforms that will lower prices. “Home of the Brave” dubbed the campaign “Sticker Shock Summer.” It will feature person-on-the-street interviews with Americans who are feeling the pressure of rising gas prices.

Matthews was Trump’s deputy White House press secretary during his first term.

“I was a very, very vocal supporter of his,” Matthews said.

Matthews’ confidence in the president waned when Trump refused to accept the results of the 2020 election. She officially resigned on Jan. 6, 2021, the day crowds stormed the U.S. Capitol.

“I am still a registered Republican,” Matthews said. “I hold conservative values near and dear. But I think that not many people nowadays are willing to call out Trump.”

“Sticker Shock Summer” is centered around the idea that summer is typically a time for vacations and road trips, but that it is more challenging to take those trips now due to the cost of gas, flights, hotels, restaurants and groceries going up.

Mary Jane Truemper, chair of the Nebraska GOP, said Nebraskans won’t be bought by what she called a left-wing, outside group.

“It won’t work,” Truemper said of the ad campaign. “Nebraskans don’t take their cues from coastal activists with a checkbook - they trust what they can see with their own eyes, and what they see is a country that’s stronger under Republican leadership.”

Home of the Brave is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, which does not have to disclose its donors. Matthews declined to comment on the organization's donors, but did say it was funded by "Americans across the country." Ken Casey, a member of the group's advisory board, has also promoted Dan Osborn, independent candidate for the U.S. senate.