Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and former President Donald Trump are calling for a boycott of DirecTV after the company dropped Newsmax from its channel lineup.
Sen. Paul had already canceled his DirecTV service last year after the company removed One America News (OAN).
“I would cancel @DIRECTV for censoring @NEWSMAX but I already canceled them for canceling @OANN,” Paul tweeted. “I guess @DIRECTV doesn’t want conservative viewers so maybe we should all just quit their services and go elsewhere.”
DirecTV stated that the decision was a “cost-cutting” measure, similar to the reason given for deplatforming OAN last year.
However, DirecTV still carries 22 left-wing news channels, many with low ratings and receiving high license fees, according to Newsmax.
Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said on “Rob Schmitt Tonight” that DirecTV’s “idea of cost-cutting is to cut conservative channels” and pointed out that his station represents the nation’s fourth highest-rated cable news network.
Former President Donald Trump also condemned DirecTV’s decision, calling it “disgusting” and urging supporters to cancel DirecTV and other AT&T services.
Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social, “WOW. AT&T DIRECTV REMOVES NEWSMAX FROM ITS CHANNEL LINEUP. This disgusting move comes after ‘deplatforming’ OAN last year. The Radical Left seems to have taken over the mind and soul of AT&T. This is a big blow to the Republican Party, and to America itself.”
“For DIRECTV to drop very popular NEWSMAX, without explanation, will not be accepted. I, for one, will be dropping all association with AT&T and DIRECTV, and I have plenty. This is just one of many reasons why we must WIN IN 2024!!!” Trump added.
He sent another post, writing, “I think that AT&T, which is heavily over $leveraged, and it’s DIRECTV, should CANCEL CNN & MSDNC (MSNBC) in that their Ratings are so pathetically bad that it must be an embarrassment to be associated with them. PUT NEWSMAX & OAN BACK ON — THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DEMANDS IT!!!”
Trump said in another post: “CANCEL CNN & MSDNC (MSNBC). FAKE NEWS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO “STINK UP” OUR AIRWAVES! DIRECTV, WHICH IS DOING REALLY BADLY, & AT&T, WHICH IS DOING EVEN WORSE, SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR DROPPING NEWSMAX AND OAN. WE SHOULD DROP THEM!!!”
