Trump Campaign Issues Cease-and-Desist to New Mexico Gubernatorial Candidate

A legal firm representing President Donald Trump and one of his political action committees has issued a formal cease-and-desist letter to Duke Rodriguez, a Republican candidate for governor of New Mexico. The legal action follows the candidate’s use of campaign advertisements that allegedly utilized the president’s image and likeness without authorization.

The Basis for Legal Action

The cease-and-desist letter, dated Tuesday, May 19, 2026, centers on campaign advertisements—distributed via mail and text—that feature an illustration of President Trump depicted as the iconic “Uncle Sam” character. The materials include the phrase, “I want you to vote for Duke Rodriguez for New Mexico governor.”

According to the correspondence from attorney Domenic Aulisi of the Dhillon Law Group Inc., these advertisements create the “unmistakable impression” that the president is actively urging voters to support Rodriguez. The letter characterizes this as a “deceptive use” of the president’s image to simulate an endorsement. Aulisi explicitly stated in the letter that “President Trump has not endorsed Mr. Rodriguez for Governor.”

Candidate Response and Political Context

Duke Rodriguez has characterized the advertisements as “political parody.” Regarding the cease-and-desist letter, Rodriguez noted on Wednesday that he had not yet received the document via the U.S. Postal Service, though he acknowledged its circulation among members of the press. He further suggested that the timing and distribution of the letter were influenced by political rivals.

Political analysts note that while presidential endorsements are highly sought after in Republican primary contests, the political landscape in New Mexico remains fluid. As of mid-May 2026, President Trump has not issued an endorsement for any candidate in the state’s Republican gubernatorial primary.

Key Takeaways

• Legal Challenge: A law firm representing President Trump and a supporting political action committee has demanded the cessation of campaign ads featuring the president’s likeness.
• Deceptive Practice Allegation: The legal team argues that the ads falsely imply an official endorsement by the president.
• Campaign Defense: Candidate Duke Rodriguez has described the materials as a form of political parody.
• Endorsement Status: There has been no official endorsement issued by President Trump for any candidate in the New Mexico Republican gubernatorial primary race.

Future Implications

The incident highlights the growing tension regarding the use of high-profile political figures’ images in local election cycles. As campaigns increasingly leverage digital and direct-mail strategies, the boundaries between political satire and deceptive representation often face intense legal scrutiny. For the Rodriguez campaign, the immediate impact involves the removal of the contested advertisements as they navigate the remainder of the primary race.