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Credit: Inside The MagicWe are not even one month into Donald Trump’s presidency and there are already multiple investigations, executive orders, and lawsuits centering around the president. He is wasting no time in going after companies that he feels attacked during and after his first term.
One of Trump’s first initiatives was ending DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) hiring practices around the country. The day after he was sworn in, Mr. Trump signed an executive order making it illegal for companies to continue with their DEI hiring practices. Major companies like Google and Target immediately announced that they were ending their DEI practices.
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However, it appears that not every company was as quick to fold to Trump’s demands, and now he is going after them.
According to a report from TheWrap, Brendan Carr, the head of the Federal Communications Commission, has announced an investigation into NBCUniversal.
Carr sent a letter to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts on Tuesday, informing the company that he’d be opening an investigation into their use of DEI programs.
“I am writing to inform you that I have asked the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to open an investigation into Comcast and NBCUniversal,” Carr’s letter read. “In particular, I want to ensure that your companies are not promoting invidious forms of discrimination in violation of FCC regulations and civil rights laws.”
Related: “Lousy” ABC Accused of Discriminating Against Donald Trump
In response, NBCUniversal said that it will fully cooperate with the investigation. The company further said, “For decades, our company has been built on a foundation of integrity and respect for all of our employees and customers.”
This new investigation has many people wondering what will happen to Disney.
Over the years, Mr. Trump has made it very clear that he does not like The Walt Disney Company or ABC, which is owned by Disney. In fact, even before Mr. Trump was sworn in last month, Mr. Carr wrote a letter to Bob Iger, criticizing ABC’s coverage of Mr. Trump. Mr Carr said that Americans could no longer trust the mainstream media.
Related: Days After Massive Trump Settlement, Disney Inks New Deal With Controversial Anchor
However, it appears that Disney is doing what it can to stay off of Trump’s radar.
In December, Bob Iger shocked everyone when he decided at the last minute to settle a multi-million lawsuit brought against ABC by Donald Trump. Trump had accused legendary news anchor George Stephanopoulos of defamation when the anchor referred to Trump as a rapist.
In the settlement, Disney agreed to pay $1 million in attorney’s fees, as well as donating $15 million to a fund dedicated to building Mr. Trump’s Presidential library.
Furthermore, Disney has removed any mention of DEI initiatives from its website and investor reports. Prior to Trump’s executive order, certain Disney movies, like Peter Pan (1953), had warnings before the movie began. The disclaimer acknowledged that the movie contained negative depictions of certain people in the movie, but Disney wanted people to learn from the past and not erase it.
Do you think the federal government should investigate the hiring practices of companies like Disney and Universal? Or do think that companies should embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion? Share your thoughts in the comments!