Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr today urged broadcasters to join the “Pledge America Campaign,” which Carr founded to support President Trump’s “Salute to America 250” project.
Carr said in a press release that “I am inviting broadcasters to pledge to air programming in their local markets in support of this historic national, non-partisan celebration.” The press release said Carr is asking broadcasters to “air patriotic, pro-America programming in support of America’s 250th birthday.”
Carr gave examples of the content that broadcasters could run if they took the pledge. His examples include “beginning each broadcast day with the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ or the Pledge of Allegiance”; airing “PSAs, short segments, or full specials” specifically promoting civics education, inspiring local stories, and American history; “running segments during regular news programming that highlight local sites that are important to American and regional history, such as National Park Service sites”; broadcasting “the music of America’s greatest composers such as John Philip Sousa, Aaron Copland, Duke Ellington and George Gershwin”; and providing daily “Today in American History” announcements highlighting important events in American history.
Carr apparently wants it to start now and last through at least July 4. Carr’s press release begins by describing Trump’s Salute to America 250 project and quotes a White House statement saying, “Under the President’s leadership, Task Force 250 has begun planning for a full year-long celebration to officially launch on Memorial Day, 2025, and continue through July 4, 2026.”
That White House quote cited by the FCC today is about a year old, as you might guess from the reference to Memorial Day in 2025. Recently, Trump has said that he wants the celebration to last throughout 2026.
“Voluntary” pledge
“Broadcasters can voluntarily choose to demonstrate their commitment to the Pledge America campaign by highlighting ongoing and relevant programming to their viewing and listening audiences,” today’s FCC press release said. Although described as voluntary, Carr said broadcasters can fulfill their public interest obligations by taking the pledge. This is notable because Carr has repeatedly threatened to punish broadcast stations for violating the public interest standard.
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