NBC has notified the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it will give Donald Trump “equal time” in response to Vice President Kamala Harris’s short appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”

Harris made a cameo on the show hosted by John Mulaney, where she humorously provided advice to comedian Maya Rudolph, who has portrayed her in the lead-up to the elections.

After her appearance, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr took to X, previously known as Twitter, calling it a “clear and blatant effort to sidestep the FCC’s Equal Time rule.” Carr, a Republican appointed by Trump, suggested that NBC should also give equal time to “other eligible campaigns.”

In a notice filed on Sunday, NBC stated that Harris’s appearance lasted “without charge” just 1 minute and 30 seconds. To comply with the equal time rule, NBC offered airtime to Trump on the same day, allowing him to speak directly to viewers during the NASCAR 2024 Cup playoff event, as reported by CNN’s Brian Stelter.

On “The Ingraham Angle,” Carr discussed Harris’s guest role, expressing that “every option should be considered for the FCC because we must respond to what appears to be a clear violation and deter future occurrences, regardless of the benefit it brings to any political party.”

Understanding the FCC’s Equal Time Rule

The FCC’s equal time rule mandates that broadcast stations in the United States must allow equal opportunities to competing political candidates. This regulation does not apply to cable channels, online videos, podcasts, or social media.

If Donald Trump requests equal time with NBC following Harris’s appearance on “SNL,” the network must provide it before the coming Election Day on Tuesday.

(This article has been updated with the latest information.)