Brendan Carr
Role at the time: Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, speaking to reporters
Statement summary
On September 30, 2026, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr was asked by reporters about the taxpayer-funded ads featuring Trump and about the complaint Public Citizen filed with the FCC. As TheWrap reported, he said he sees nothing unique or different about the ads other than that they are normal public service announcements, the types the government naturally and normally runs. NBC News and Reuters reported that he also said nothing in them merits FCC review.
“I don't think there's anything unique or different about it, other than being a normal PSA: the types of PSAs that the government naturally and normally runs.”
NBC News report, timed 5:30 p.m. EDT and updated at 5:53 p.m. It says Carr spoke to reporters and was asked about allegations that the ads are propaganda and about the Public Citizen complaint. It also prints a statement Commissioner Anna Gomez gave NBC News.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The conduct under scrutiny is federal payment for Trump-promoting ads. Carr treats the ads as ordinary government public service announcements and sees nothing unusual in the government running them, which defends the practice. The closest competing label is Challenged the characterization, because he laughed when asked about allegations that the ads are propaganda and said nothing in them merits FCC review; it does not fit because his remarks accept the government's role in producing and running them.