Trump campaign demands 'equal time' from networks that aired Biden’s prime time Kamala endorsement

GOP Political Strategist Chris LaCivita posted on X after Biden completed his address, “Every single network that televised this campaign speech will be getting follow-up letters from our attorneys regarding equal time,” and tagged the networks.

Before the speech, David Warrington, counsel for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, sent letters to the heads of ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX demanding that if they air Biden’s address, Trump be given equal time to make his case to the American public.

According to the letters obtained by Breitbart News, Biden’s speech does not represent a “bona fide news event” but instead is “a primetime campaign commercial to boost Vice President Harris’ anemic poll numbers.”

Warrington wrote, “On July 23, 2024, President Biden announced that he would be giving a primetime speech on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. This speech is expected to address President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race in the wake of his widely panned debate performance and freefalling poll numbers. It is also expected to address President Biden’s endorsement of Vice President (and ‘border czar) Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination for president. As such, it appears that President Biden’s speech will not be a bona fide news event, but rather, a primetime campaign commercial to boost Vice President Harris’ anemic poll numbers.”

He continued, “As you are aware, under federal law, if you permit the use of your facilities by a candidate for public office, you are required to ‘afford equal opportunities to all other candidates for that office to use such facilities.’ By broadcasting President Biden’s campaign speech, you have permitted the use of your facilities by a candidate for public office. Thus, you are obligated to provide an equal opportunity for President Trump.”

Warrington added in his letter to each network, “This letter shall constitute a request for equal access. This letter provides actual notice of your obligations. Therefore, any failure to provide equal access may be considered ‘willful’ and result in consequences up to and including the revocation of your station license.

Moreover, your granting of free airtime to President Biden to speak on behalf of Vice President Harris’ campaign may result in an impermissible and excessive corporate in-kind contribution to the Biden (now Harris) for President Committee.”

There has been no word yet if the networks will agree or if they will fight the demand in court.