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Trump campaign ad airs during NBC's NASCAR and NFL coverage amid Harris' “SNL” furor

Near the end of the NASCAR

The ad began with “A special message from Donald J. Trump.”

Trump was seen wearing his “Make America Great Again” hat as he told viewers that the election of Vice President Kamala Harris would bring another “depression.” He also urged viewers to get out and vote just hours before Election Day.

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Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on May 26, 2024. (Logan Riely/Getty Images)

“We are losing everything, including viability,” Trump said in the ad. “Because of what happened, we will end up in a depression. We have never experienced anything like this, at least not in the last 40 years.”

According to multiple reports, the Republican presidential candidate's appearance appeared to be related to Harris' surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to NBC for comment.

The uproar over her appearance and the question of whether Trump would get free time on any NBC shows was the topic of conversation Sunday.

NBC News filed an equal-time notice with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) late Sunday following the backlash, revealing Harris' “SNL” appearance after the network was accused of violating the longstanding rule.

The announcement came after Commissioner Brendan Carr, the FCC's top Republican, criticized NBC's decision to host Harris on the final episode of SNL before Election Day without giving the same time to former President Trump or other candidates in the presidential cycle .

“It appears that at least some executives at NBC and SNL are making it clear that they wanted to advocate for a candidate before the election. That's exactly why we had the same opportunities for decades.” The rule is to prevent this. Because remember, broadcasters don't have a license like every other person on the corner that requires them to act in the public interest,” Carr told Fox News Digital in a Zoom interview Sunday morning.

Harris at the press conference in Detroit

Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to reporters after speaking at a service at the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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The NBC filing later Sunday confirms that the network “views the Harris SNL appearance as free use of its facilities and airwaves within the meaning of the federal equal time rule,” Carr told Fox News Digital later Sunday, emphasizing The limited time frame of Trump and others in this case have to accept the network's offer.

Harris appeared in the sketch comedy recording at 1 minute and 30 seconds. It's unclear whether Trump would appear elsewhere on the network's shows between now and Election Day.

Trump in Arizona

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures after a Tucker Carlson Live Tour show at the Desert Diamond Arena on Thursday, October 31, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

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The Federal Communications Commission's Equal Time Rule was established in 1934 and requires radio and television stations to provide equal time to competing political candidates. There are exceptions to the rule such as news programs, documentaries and political debates.

Fox News' Yael Halon contributed to this report.

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