Saturday Night Live’s latest attempt to sprinkle a little last-minute stardust on Kamala Harris backfired in epic fashion this weekend. What started as a thinly veiled campaign boost for the vice president spiraled into a major FCC equal-time rule violation, forcing NBC to grant Donald Trump some prime-time ad space. Let’s just say he didn’t waste it.
For weeks, SNL made it clear they wouldn’t let any presidential candidates appear on the show in the interest of “fairness.” But as Election Day loomed, they tossed that principle right out the window, allowing Kamala Harris to pop in with a “surprise” cameo. Harris’s performance was…well, predictably awkward, complete with that cackle she just can’t contain. And as if that wasn’t enough, she even lifted a skit concept straight from Trump’s 2015 playbook. But NBC overlooked all of this, apparently not realizing they were about to run headfirst into an FCC equal-time violation.
The equal-time rule is simple: if a broadcaster gives airtime to a political candidate, they’re legally bound to offer the same opportunity to their opponents. However, SNL didn’t invite Trump, and the oversight didn’t go unnoticed. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr publicly accused NBC of a “blatant effort to evade” election law, sparking a wave of backlash that NBC just couldn’t ignore.
Scrambling to save face, the network finally filed an Equal Time notice with the FCC. The notice admitted Harris appeared on SNL for a minute and a half, but it was NBC’s timing that made things messy. With Harris’s cameo airing on the last Saturday before the election, there was no shot for Trump to appear on SNL before the polls opened.
This is a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC’s Equal Time rule.
The purpose of the rule is to avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct – a licensed broadcaster using the public airwaves to exert its influence for one candidate on the eve of an election.… https://t.co/LliZF0po9t
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) November 3, 2024
Under mounting pressure, NBC offered the Trump campaign a compromise: three ad slots aired on two of the country’s biggest sports stages—NASCAR and Sunday Night Football. The price tag on those slots wasn’t exactly pocket change, either. Each ad cost around $1.7 million, a hefty sum that the network likely didn’t intend to shell out just to save face. But in the end, they were forced to hand over those pricey spots as Trump’s chance to speak directly to millions of Americans.
In his quick-turn ad, Trump made use of every second. Standing before a backdrop of American flags, MAGA hat in place, he cut right to the chase, greeting viewers with, “Hello to our great sports fans, and I hope you’re having a fantastic time.” Then he launched into a direct, no-nonsense critique of the Harris-Biden administration, talking up issues hitting home for most Americans: rising costs, job losses, and inflation.
In classic Trump fashion, he painted a stark contrast between his message and Harris’s SNL performance, which amounted to a cozy comedy bit with Hollywood elites. She used her time to get laughs over her identity credentials, while Trump took aim at the economic realities many are feeling day-to-day. As he spoke to NASCAR and football fans—everyday Americans watching from their couches—the message was clear. Harris’s cameo on SNL may have catered to her celebrity crowd, but Trump’s message was for the folks who feel the impact of Washington’s missteps on their wallets.
Trump closed his ad with a straightforward call to action: “Kamala and her friends broke it, I’ll fix it.” He reminded viewers that this isn’t just another election but “the most important election in the history of our country.” And with that, he urged them to vote like their wallets, if not their lives, depend on it.
🚨NEW: NBC allowed Donald Trump to air a 90 second advertisement per FCC regulations.
They were mandated to provide time to Trump equal to what Kamala Harris received on SNL due to election laws. The segment aired during tonight’s NASCAR post-race show.
“Get out and vote!” pic.twitter.com/ghRMPvDMMa
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) November 4, 2024
NBC’s attempt to prop up Harris may have just given Trump an unexpected boost, serving up prime exposure to millions of Americans who wouldn’t trade their NASCAR and football for an SNL skit any day.
