FILE PHOTO: Chairman Ajit Pai speaks ahead of the vote on the repeal of so called net neutrality rules at the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, U.S., December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said on Wednesday he stands by the decision to refer Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc's SBGI.O $3.9 billion proposed acquisition of Tribune Media Co TRCO.N for review by an administrative law judge despite critical comments from U.S. President Donald Trump.

“I stand by our decision,” Pai told a U.S. House panel.

Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday that it was “disgraceful” that the FCC “wouldn’t approve the Sinclair Broadcast merger with Tribune. This would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People.”

Pai said he did not make decisions based on ideology of applicants, but looked at the facts.