Trump Demands FCC Action Against NBC and ‘Fake Polls’
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — Donald Trump has called for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take action against NBC News and several polling companies. This follows his criticism of...
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — Donald Trump has called for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take action against NBC News and several polling companies. This follows his criticism of media coverage regarding his declining popularity and the outcomes of his political endorsements.
In messages posted on Truth Social, Trump announced his intention to direct the FCC, the U.S. agency responsible for media regulation, against these entities. This declaration comes despite the FCC chair’s assertion that the commission does not act under presidential direction when targeting Trump’s adversaries.
Trump specifically targeted NBC’s Kristen Welker, the host of Meet the Press, for her accurate reporting on the mixed success of his endorsements. This criticism follows several Trump-backed candidates losing their primary races, including Rep. Cory Mills in Florida and Amir Hassan in Michigan.
The president’s ire towards Welker is not new; he previously exited an interview with her after she questioned his claims about the 2020 election. Trump now claims Welker will be reported to the FCC for “purposeful inaccuracy” in her reporting.
Trump also expressed outrage over what he termed “fake polls” used by the media, calling for FCC intervention. His comments follow a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing his national approval rating at 33 percent, the lowest of his presidency, and a Franklin & Marshall College poll in Pennsylvania showing a 27 percent approval rating.
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Despite these low ratings, Trump highlighted the success of his endorsement of Darline Graham Nordone, sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who won the South Carolina primary for her brother’s Senate seat.
FCC chair Brendan Carr has denied that his review of ABC’s license is related to Trump’s previous calls to fire Jimmy Kimmel. However, critics argue that the FCC is increasingly pressuring major networks to avoid presidential criticism. ABC and its parent company, Disney, have sued the FCC over the license review, alleging it is a campaign to alter ABC’s programming.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
