Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar of Michigan is under fire after using taxpayer dollars to promote billboards calling for President Donald Trump’s impeachment—just as the 45th president arrived in Michigan to celebrate his first 100 days back in office.

Thanedar, a two-term backbencher who has struggled to make waves in Washington, unveiled four billboards across his Detroit-based district on Tuesday. Each one declares: “Rep. Shri: Demand Congress Impeach Trump.” The stunt came less than 24 hours after Thanedar introduced seven articles of impeachment against Trump in the House.

“Donald Trump arrives in Michigan today to celebrate his first 100 days in office,” Thanedar posted on X. “Here’s how I’ll be greeting him.”

But the billboard campaign has sparked intense criticism—especially because it was paid for with taxpayer funds from Thanedar’s official congressional budget. House rules technically allow members to use their office budgets for “mass communication,” but they strictly forbid using those funds to promote campaign activity or partisan attacks.

The Detroit News, which broke the story, noted that Thanedar spent nearly $930,000 on taxpayer-funded advertising in 2024 alone—nearly half of his entire office budget. That’s more than any of the 434 other House members.

And now he’s at it again, doubling down on a doomed impeachment effort that even his fellow Democrats are calling a “distraction.”

Rep. Debbie Dingell, a veteran Democrat also from Michigan, slammed Thanedar’s move during an MSNBC interview Tuesday. “I think this next month, we’re gonna be very focused on protecting people’s healthcare… That’s what we need to be focused on and delivering,” she said, not-so-subtly distancing herself from Thanedar’s political stunt.

The billboards went up just hours before President Trump arrived in Michigan for a rally marking his first 100 days of his historic second term. With Michigan shaping up to be a key battleground in the 2026 midterms, Thanedar’s timing raised eyebrows among both political strategists and legal watchdogs.

It also raises questions about ethics. The franking privilege is supposed to help members communicate with constituents—not push personal vendettas against the sitting president. Thanedar’s move is seen by many as a blatant abuse of the system, especially considering his own re-election challenges.

He’s facing a primary opponent backed by the same far-left groups that boosted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the “Squad.” With his seat in jeopardy, some say Thanedar is using taxpayer resources to grab headlines and shore up his base.

Meanwhile, House GOP leadership has made clear that Thanedar’s articles of impeachment are dead on arrival. A procedural vote to table the resolution is expected if Thanedar tries to force it to the floor.

Even among Democrats, support is thin. While Thanedar cited Trump’s “abuse of executive power,” the vague language and political theater surrounding the announcement left many of his colleagues cold.

“This isn’t serious legislation—it’s a campaign ad disguised as a resolution,” one senior GOP aide told the Daily Caller. “And the fact that he’s using taxpayer funds to promote it just makes it worse.”

Thanedar, an Indian-American millionaire and former chemist, has leaned into progressive politics since arriving in Congress. But his tenure has been marked more by flashy gestures than actual results. Critics now accuse him of using his platform to inflame partisan divisions rather than serve the people of Michigan.

He’s also no stranger to controversy. In 2023, Thanedar came under scrutiny for spending heavily on self-promotion while delivering little in terms of legislative wins. Now, his impeachment push is being seen by many as a desperate move to stay politically relevant.

President Trump’s Michigan rally, by contrast, focused on policy wins—booming job numbers, new trade deals, and the successful crackdown on illegal immigration. While Thanedar wasted taxpayer money on billboards, Trump was busy reminding voters why they elected him to begin with.

The bottom line: this latest political stunt may have gotten Thanedar some headlines, but it’s also raised serious questions about his judgment—and whether Michigan voters will hold him accountable in 2026.