NBC News aired a brief video message from former President Trump on Sunday evening in an effort to provide equal air time to the leading presidential candidates following Vice President Harris’ appearance on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL).

The network was broadcasting a NASCAR playoff race, but toward the end of the broadcast, Trump looked into the camera and addressed the crowd in a recorded message.

The Hill has reached out to NBC News for more information, but the Hollywood Reporter noted Trump said a Harris presidency would cause a “depression” and encouraged people to vote.

A source familiar with the matter told the news outlet that this appearance was about giving Trump equal time. The outlet noted that it was unclear whether the Trump campaign requested the vacancy or whether it was provided by NBC.

Harris made his debut With the election less than three days away on SNL, for the cold open of the episode, the show features a short skit with comedian Maya Rudolph, who plays Harris.

The Trump campaign was quick to criticize Harris for attending the show, saying she was “cosplaying with her elite friends” as her campaign was “drifting toward indecision.”

On Sunday, the negativity arising from the outlook continued. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr Published on X said his appearance was a “clear and obvious” effort to evade the FCC’s Equal Time rule.

FCC’s “Equal Time” rule Allow rival candidates to seek equal airtime if they wish. Carr said this was designed to avoid “this type of biased and partisan behavior.”

Harris appeared on SNL for one minute and 30 seconds, and under the FCC’s rule Trump can request about the same airtime from the network.

FCC regulation does not require a station to offer the same opportunity to competing candidates, but instead provides comparable time and placement.

NBC made a notification On Sunday, the FCC announced Harris’ airtime and said he was participating in the program for free.

Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for more information and comment.

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