Trump backs FCC chair’s threat to pull licenses of news outlets over Iran war coverage | Trump administration
Donald Trump amplified comments by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr threatening broadcast licenses of news organizations reporting negatively on the war in Iran.
In a post on Truth Social Sunday night, Trump said he was “thrilled” that Carr was “looking at the licenses of some of the Corrupt and Extremely Unpatriotic ‘News’ Organizations.” They get Billions of Dollars of FREE American Airwaves and use it to perpetuate LIES….”
In a post published on
In an interview with Reuters published on Monday but reportedly conducted before his appointment, Carr said he could speed up the review of licenses held by television broadcast stations.
“You can renew early,” Carr was quoted as saying. When asked, he said it was also possible that broadcasting licenses could be revoked as a result of ongoing investigations.
“These are all on the table,” Carr said.
He added that “it would be a good thing in the long run for people to understand that there are actually things you can do to lose your licence, and to actually help broadcasters reorient their activities towards the public good.”
Carr’s comments drew rebuke from both Democrats and Republicans, who pointed out that the First Amendment protects news organizations from government censorship. Trump’s comments indicate that he will expand his campaign against the media.
Trump called Iran “a master of media manipulation” and noted—correctly—that AI-generated images were flooding the internet, discreetly directed by news organizations. However, he later claimed that Iran was “working in close coordination with the Fake News Media” in disseminating these images, describing them as misleadingly depicting a US aircraft carrier burning at sea.
He wrote: “The story was knowingly FAKE and in a way you could say that the Media Organizations that produced it should be prosecuted for TREASON for spreading misinformation!”
US defense secretary and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth slammed the press on Friday, claiming that the media coverage was negative. Hegseth banned press photographers from the briefing. reportedly because some of Hegseth’s published photos were considered “derogatory”.
Hegseth, who named CNN by name, said: “The sooner David Ellison takes over this network, the better.”
It’s not the first time Trump has threatened broadcasters’ licenses. Trump was angry with an ABC News reporter who asked him about the Epstein files last year. “I think ABC needs to be licensed because your news is so fake and so inaccurate,” Trump said. “And we have a great commissioner, a president, who should take a look at this.”
In February, Carr called on broadcasters to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary by “publishing patriotic, pro-America content that celebrates the American journey and inspires its citizens by highlighting the historic achievements of this great nation since our founding today through the Trump Administration.”
