President Donald Trump has unleashed a digital broadside against Rev. Al Sharpton, posting a throwback photo on Truth Social that’s raising eyebrows and tempers alike.
The New York Post reported that Trump shared an old snapshot of Sharpton from around 1988—complete with a red shirt, suspenders, and a hefty gold pendant—while slamming the activist’s television program as a ratings disaster and calling for federal intervention against major news networks.
Trump didn’t hold back, taking a jab at Sharpton’s physique in the decades-old image, a move that’s sure to stoke debate about decorum in political discourse.
While the critique may sting, it’s part of a broader pattern of Trump using social media to settle scores with flair. Let’s face it—when Trump swings, he aims for the spotlight.
The photo, a relic of the late ‘80s, isn’t just a visual jab; it’s a calculated reminder of Sharpton’s past, including his controversial role in the 1987 Tawana Brawley case.
Trump referenced the incident, where a young Black girl falsely accused several white men of assault, as a stain on Sharpton’s credibility. It’s a chapter many would rather forget, but Trump’s clearly banking on its staying power.
Beyond the personal digs, Trump claimed a long acquaintance with Sharpton, painting a picture of a one-sided admiration. “I knew Al Sharpton for many years, not that it matters, but he was a major ‘TRUMP’ fan,” Trump wrote, suggesting Sharpton leaned on him for crowd appeal at events. If true, it’s a curious footnote to their now-icy dynamic.
But Trump’s nostalgia comes with a sharp edge, as he insists Sharpton’s show, “PoliticsNation” on MSNBC, is a flop of historic proportions.
He even mixed up the networks in his post, pinning the program to NBC instead—a small slip in an otherwise pointed attack. For conservatives frustrated with media bias, this misstep might be the least of their concerns.
The real meat of Trump’s outburst lies in his demand for the Federal Communications Commission to step in. He accused NBC and ABC of pushing overwhelmingly favorable content for Democrats while dishing out near-constant negativity toward Republicans.
It’s a familiar refrain from Trump, who has long argued that broadcast licenses should be yanked from outlets critical of him.
Trump’s call for FCC action isn’t just about Sharpton—it’s a broader indictment of what many on the right see as a progressive stranglehold on mainstream media.
While some might call this heavy-handed, others will nod along, tired of what they perceive as one-sided narratives. The question is whether such a move would stand up to legal or public scrutiny.
Sharpton, for his part, hasn’t directly responded to this latest salvo, though his history of resilience suggests he won’t stay quiet long. Trump’s post, timed late on a Sunday, seems crafted for maximum social media buzz, ensuring the feud lingers into the workweek. It’s classic Trump—part provocation, part policy push.
Zooming in on “PoliticsNation,” Trump’s claim of dismal ratings may resonate with conservatives who view much of cable news as an echo chamber for the left. Whether the numbers back up his assertion remains a point of contention, but the jab fits a narrative of media irrelevance. After all, in Trump’s world, ratings are the ultimate scoreboard.
The network mix-up—attributing Sharpton’s show to NBC rather than MSNBC—might dilute the punch for some, but it doesn’t erase the underlying grievance. Many on the right feel that these networks, regardless of the specifics, form a monolithic front against conservative values. It’s less about the fine print and more about the big picture.
Trump’s history of challenging broadcast licenses adds weight to this latest demand, signaling he’s not just venting but doubling down on a strategy.
For supporters, it’s a bold stand against what they see as a biased media landscape. Critics, however, might argue it risks overreach into press freedom—a debate that’s far from settled.
This clash isn’t just about a photo or a show; it’s a window into decades of tension between two larger-than-life figures. Trump’s assertion that Sharpton once courted him for rally crowds paints a complex picture of their past—one where personal ties and public spats collide. It’s a reminder that in politics, yesterday’s ally can be today’s target.
For now, the ball is in Sharpton’s court, as conservatives watch to see if Trump’s FCC push gains traction. While the photo and the taunts grab headlines, the call for federal action against networks like NBC and ABC could have longer-lasting ripples. It’s a story of personal barbs meeting policy battles—and in Trump’s arena, that’s par for the course.
