(NewsNation) — Former President Donald Trump’s campaign ads were aired on NBC Sunday after the network was criticized for hosting Vice President Kamala Harris on “Saturday Night Live” and not extending an invitation to the former president.
Trump’s ads appeared on both NBC’s NASCAR coverage and at the end of the NFL game on Sunday evening to provide him equal exposure following Harris’ SNL appearance, an NBC source confirmed to NewsNation.
“We are complying with our regulatory obligations and providing equal time,” the source said.
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Both Harris and Trump’s appearances on the network were free of cost.
Harris made a surprise appearance on SNL on Saturday for a skit lasting one minute and 30 seconds. Trump’s team was not extended an invite. However, the show has often had political candidates on, including Trump, over the past 50 years from across the political spectrum, the source said.
FCC commissioner Brendan Carr claimed Harris’ recent appearance on SNL violated the “equal time” rule.
“This is a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC’s Equal Time rule,” Carr posted to X.
On Sunday, NBC filed a notice with the Federal Communications Commission, which is required by Section 73.1943 of the Rules of the FCC. The rule requires that broadcasters offer comparable airtime for each candidate to ensure fair media exposure during the election season.
