TRUMP URGED THE FCC TO INVESTIGATE MEDIA POLLS AND PUNISH NBC HOSTS

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TRUMP, STEPPED UP HIS CRITICISM OF THE MEDIA ON SUNDAY, URGING THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) TO INVESTIGATE POLLS USED IN THE MEDIA AND PUNISH A PROMINENT TELEVISION NEWS ANCHOR. TRUMP HAS LONG HAD TENSIONS WITH JOURNALISTS AND NEWS AGENCIES WHO PUBLISH STORIES THAT HE DOES NOT LIKE, ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO HIS OPINION-RAISING RATE. RECENT POLLS HAVE SHOWN THAT, AS THE UNPOPULAR WAR IN IRAN CONTINUES AND THE PRICE OF GASOLINE REMAINS HIGH, TRUMP’S CURRENT SUPPORT RATE IS LOWER THAN AT ANY TIME IN HIS TWO TERMS. TRUMP IS INCREASINGLY USING ITS OWN HOSTILITY TO THE MEDIA TO SEEK TO PROMOTE ACTION BY THE FCC, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RADIO AND TELEVISION LICENCES. TRUMP COMPLAINED ON SUNDAY THAT ACTION MUST BE TAKEN AGAINST THE “FALSE POLLS” USED IN THE MEDIA. HE WRITES IN SOCIAL MEDIA: “IT'S TIME FOR THE FCC TO DO IT!” THE POLLS ARE OFTEN FUNDED BY TELEVISION STATIONS OR NEWS AGENCIES, BUT THE ACTUAL INVESTIGATIONS ARE CARRIED OUT BY UNIVERSITIES OR BY POLLING COMPANIES, WHICH HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THEM. FCC ALSO HAS NO RIGHT TO REGULATE CABLE TELEVISION OR PRINT MEDIA. TRUMP ALSO CRITICIZED THE NBC'S MODERATOR, CHRISTINE WELKE, FOR SAYING THAT THE RESULTS OF HIS ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION THIS YEAR WERE MIXED. TRUMP, REFERRING TO THE REPORT OF WELKE, SAID THAT “AS A RESULT OF THIS DELIBERATE DISTORTION OF THE FACTS, SHE WOULD BE REPORTED TO THE FCC FOR CONDEMNATION OR PUNISHMENT”。