Donald Trump wants the federal government to “take tough action” against MSNBC for criticizing him.

Former President Donald Trump’s attacks on the media are central to his image, but he is again calling on the federal government to take action against NBCUniversal over MSNBC’s criticism of him.

In a late-night post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump complained that MSNBC “uses government-sanctioned airwaves for FREE and yet it’s nothing but a 24-hour hit” for him and “the Republican Party. ” Party for the purpose of ELECTION” is INFERENCE.” “

He also attacked Brian Roberts, the CEO of NBCU parent company Comcast, as a “slim who has been able to get away with these constant attacks for years.”

“This is the world’s biggest political contribution to the radical left Democrats who, by the way, are destroying our country.” Our so-called “government” should crack down on them and make them pay for their illegal political activities. There is still a lot to come, look!”

A bit of unpacking: MSNBC is a cable network and therefore does not use the public airwaves. But even if it were a broadcaster, the FCC has made clear that it will not regulate the content of news broadcasts. The Fairness Doctrine, which required broadcasters to present diverse viewpoints on controversial issues, was abandoned more than 35 years ago during Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

The Federal Election Commission’s spending rules, on the other hand, exclude the news media, or more specifically, “any cost incurred to carry a news story, commentary or editorial by a broadcast network (including a cable television operator, programmer, report or distribute. or manufacturer).” “

Trump’s attacks on NBC, MSNBC and Roberts are nothing new. In the first year of his presidency, he was upset with the network’s coverage and proposed challenging NBC’s broadcast license. Ajit Pai, who Trump appointed as FCC chairman, said a week later that the FCC “does not have the authority under the law to revoke a broadcaster’s license based on the content of a particular news program.”

While Trump’s Truth Social post was one of many, many outbursts in the news media, his proposal of government retaliation, which would certainly pose a First Amendment challenge, also comes as many of his allies and others argue the right technology platforms for Censorship denounce . about their content moderation practices.

The Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana disputed the Biden administration’s contacts with social media platforms, claiming they were efforts to combat misinformation about Covid vaccines and that elections effectively censored conservative speech. The government argued that it was merely highlighting the spread of disinformation on platforms about pressing issues of public health and election integrity. The Supreme Court last month lifted an order on contact with the Biden administration and will hear arguments in the case next year.

Trump told his supporters that he would be their “retribution” in a second term and promised to appoint a special prosecutor to look after Joe Biden and his family. The New York Times and Washington Post have also reported in recent weeks on Trump and his allies’ plans for a second term, including greater oversight of federal workers.