Donald Trump Slams 'Political' Decision to Drop 'Amazing' One America News

Donald Trump has slammed Verizon's decision to drop right-wing network One America News (OAN).

Verizon confirmed last week that it would stop carrying OAN on its Fios television service from July 31.

The move means OAN, a staunchly pro-Trump channel that has been accused of promoting the former president's baseless claims about the 2020 election, is left with almost no television providers.

Trump took to his Truth Social platform, launched after he was banned from Twitter and other sites after the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, early on Sunday to decry Verizon's decision as "purely political."

"One America News (OAN) is AMAZING, with great ratings and a REALLY loyal following," he wrote.

"Despite it being so good, VERIZON, for purely political reasons, will be terminating OAN at the end of this month. Isn't this 'stuff' supposed to be illegal?"

Trump added that "the good news is that the owners and management of One America News is smart and very wise. They will figure it out!"

Verizon Fios was the largest pay-TV provider that was still carrying OAN after DirecTV declined to renew a contact with the network earlier this year, according to the Daily Beast.

The outlet first reported that Verizon was dropping OAN after not being able to reach an agreement with the network's owners.

"Our negotiation with OAN has been a typical, business as usual carriage negotiation like those that routinely happen between content distribution and content providers," a Verizon spokesperson said in a statement.

"These negotiations were focused on economics, as they always are, but OAN failed to agree to fair terms."

Several organizations had pushed major carriers to drop OAN.

Verizon's move means OAN "will be left without a major carrier to spread its often harmful and dangerous disinformation and baseless conspiracy theories," said Yosef Getachew, the media and democracy program director at Common Cause, a government watchdog group.

"This is a welcome change but long overdue."

Getachew added: "We hope those remaining small pay-tv providers and streaming services still carrying OAN will follow suit and deprive the outlet of any platform to spread harmful conspiracy theories that have done real world harm. No company should profit from spreading content that endangers our democracy."

OAN is facing billion-dollar lawsuits from voting technology companies Dominion and Smartmatic over the network's coverage of the 2020 election.

Newsweek has contacted Trump, One America News and Verizon for comment.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on
Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on from the practice range during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational - Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 28, 2022 in Bedminster, New... Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf via Getty Images

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