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Following complaints about NBC’s alleged violation of the FCC’s “equal time” rule, former President Donald Trump secured free election promotion on the network. The controversy arose after NBC featured Trump’s opponent, Kamala Harris, on “Saturday Night Live,” which was seen as an attempt to boost her appeal to voters.

Trump’s advertisement aired on Sunday evening after NASCAR’s Xfinity 500 and an NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and Indianapolis Colts. The ad presented a “special message” from Trump to sports fans, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming election.

In his message, Trump stated, “We’re two days away from the most important election in the history of our country. We’ve got to save our country, and it needs saving — it’s in very bad shape.” He highlighted recent economic challenges, warning of potential job losses and a looming economic downturn.

Trump called for several policy actions, including securing borders, lowering taxes, and combating inflation. He concluded by urging viewers to vote and directed them to a webpage for voter information.

The free airtime for Trump came as a response to Harris’ appearance in an “SNL” cold open sketch, which aired during the show’s final episode before Election Day. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr criticized the sketch as “a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC’s Equal Time rule.”

NBC subsequently filed an Equal Time notice with the FCC, acknowledging that Harris’ “SNL” appearance constituted a free use of their facilities and airwaves under the federal Equal Time rule.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung commented on Harris’ sketch, suggesting it demonstrated her campaign’s efforts to appeal to voters. Cheung criticized Harris’ policies over the past four years, stating, “She broke it, and President Trump will fix it.”