Trump targets his FCC for stalling Sinclair-Tribune merger

Mikhail Metzel | TASS | Getty Images

President Donald Trump looks on during a news conference following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, July 16, 2018. 

President Donald Trump took a shot at the Federal Communications Commission — an agency under his own administration — for stalling the proposed Sinclair Broadcast and Tribune Media merger.

“So sad and unfair,” Trump tweeted late Tuesday. “This would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People.” The Trump administration has been strict on antitrust matters in other media deals.

Trump tweet

Earlier this week, Trump raised the possibility of antitrust claims against Amazon in a series of tweets. Trump in March blocked chip company Broadcom’s proposed acquisition of Qualcomm, and the Justice Department said earlier this month it planned to challenge telecom giant AT&T’s merger with Time Warner.

Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said last week he had “serious concerns” about the proposed $3.9 billion acquisition and called for a hearing before an administrative judge.

Sinclair share prices gained 2.4 percent in early trading Wednesday. Shares of Tribune Media were up 1 percent.