Sinclair Broadcast Group has been the subject of widespread ridicule for forcing its local TV news anchors to read a script decrying "fake stories" and "false news."

But Sinclair's stand against so-called fake news received a wholehearted endorsement from a certain occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

President Trump loved the Sinclair script, which echoes Trump's frequent complaints about the media spreading "fake news" stories. Sinclair-owned stations around the US have been repeating it on air while Sinclair seeks the Trump administration's approval of a proposed merger with Tribune Media Company. Trump's Federal Communications Commission is simultaneously facing an investigation into whether it has improperly favored Sinclair in the merger review.

Sinclair's script for its TV news anchors is strikingly similar to statements Trump makes about media outlets that criticize him.

"We're concerned about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country," the Sinclair script said. "The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media. More alarming, some media outlets publish these same fake stories, without checking facts first."

Members of national media outlets "are using their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda," according to the script read by Sinclair stations.

Sinclair “superior to CNN,” Trump says

The existence of the script was reported by CNN nearly a month ago, and Deadspin posted a video of news anchors from around the country reading the script to their viewers this past weekend.

The video includes portions in which the voices of many anchors from around the US speak the same sentences simultaneously, demonstrating how a single corporation can dictate news coverage across many local broadcast markets that once operated independently:

How America's largest local TV owner turned its news anchors into soldiers in Trump's war on the media: https://t.co/iLVtKRQycL pic.twitter.com/dMdSGellH3 — Deadspin (@Deadspin) March 31, 2018

The video went viral, leading to widespread mockery of Sinclair, but Trump came to the broadcaster's defense today.

"So funny to watch Fake News Networks, among the most dishonest groups of people I have ever dealt with, criticize Sinclair Broadcasting for being biased," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Sinclair is far superior to CNN and even more Fake NBC, which is a total joke."

So funny to watch Fake News Networks, among the most dishonest groups of people I have ever dealt with, criticize Sinclair Broadcasting for being biased. Sinclair is far superior to CNN and even more Fake NBC, which is a total joke. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2018

Sinclair could reach 72% of US after merger

Sinclair owns or operates 193 TV stations in 89 US markets, and it has repeatedly required them to run segments that spread right-wing messages.

Sinclair's pending purchase of Tribune would allow it to reach 72 percent of TV-owning households in the US. Tribune says it owns or operates 42 local TV stations, including stations "in each of the nation's top three markets and seven of the top 10."

Ajit Pai, Trump's pick to chair the FCC, has already rolled back broadcast TV station ownership limits that would have prevented the merger. FCC Inspector General David Hunt recently agreed to investigate whether Pai has improperly favored Sinclair and coordinated with the company on FCC rule changes.

That investigation was requested by lawmakers Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), who have pointed to reports suggesting a tight relationship between Trump and Sinclair. For example, a December 2016 story by Politico said that the Trump campaign "struck a deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group during the campaign to try and secure better media coverage."

The Democratic lawmakers also noted that Trump reportedly discussed potential FCC rule changes in a meeting with Sinclair's executive chairman and said that Pai or his staff "have met with Sinclair representatives on numerous occasions."

Pai's spokespeople have called the Democrats' accusations "completely baseless" and said the Democrats are "target[ing] one particular company because of its perceived political views."

The FCC hasn't finished its review of the Sinclair/Tribune merger, and the Justice Department is also still examining the deal. "Sinclair remains locked in a prolonged battle with Justice Department antitrust officials over how many stations it must sell to get their approval," The New York Times reported in February.

Trump's frequent statements about media outlets have raised questions about his administration's review of mergers involving news organizations. The DOJ sued AT&T to block its purchase of CNN owner Time Warner Inc., and AT&T argued that Trump's hatred of CNN must have played a role in the merger review. But AT&T wasn't able to offer enough evidence to sway a judge on that point.