FCC chair threatens to revoke broadcasters’ licenses amid Trump comments on Iran coverage
FCC Chair Targets Broadcasters Amid Trump’s Iran Coverage Criticism
On Saturday, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr reiterated his criticism and issued new threats against broadcasters, aligning his comments with President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about media coverage of the Iran conflict. Carr shared a screenshot of Trump’s post on Truth Social, where the president accused the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other “lowlife ‘papers’ and media” of providing “terrible reporting” on the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran. The post framed the media as disseminating “fake news,” prompting Carr to warn broadcasters about potential license revocations.
“Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not,” Carr wrote.
Carr emphasized that the FCC holds licenses for television and radio stations but does not extend them to networks or organizations stations partner with, unless those entities themselves are licensees. Additionally, the agency does not regulate news outlets that rely solely on digital and print platforms, such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
Trump has long criticized media outlets for publishing stories he perceives as critical of his administration, often calling for their licenses to be stripped. Carr, in his Saturday post, linked this trend to growing public skepticism toward media credibility, citing polls that reflect widespread distrust. He also highlighted “hoaxes and distortions” during the 2024 presidential campaign as evidence of the need for stricter enforcement of the FCC’s public interest mandate.
Carr’s inclusion of Trump’s comments marks a shift in his focus, extending his scrutiny to wartime reporting. This move underscores his broader effort to hold broadcasters accountable for content that he believes fails to serve the public good. While some Democratic lawmakers and a handful of Republicans have criticized the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on media, Carr remains steadfast in his argument that the public’s declining trust validates his approach.