Technically it was a MAGA comment, and yep the comment was obviously the excuse for Trump via his puppet Carr to put pressure on networks that are depending on govt approval for mergers. Trumps own comments in the days after confirm this, he's sick of being made fun of when he is the Great Leader, it's not fair, and now it's illegal (he actually used that word)
Yes to be totally accurate it was the company decision, and as
@Ohgeez says, not 'sacked'
But believe it or not Ted Cruz put it best I reckon... Carr's comment was akin to the mafia walking in and saying "nice place you've got here, pity if something happened to it". A not-veiled threat