FCC chair Carr threatens broadcast licenses over negative Iran war coverage after Trump media tirade

Trump's FCC chairman Brendan Carr visited him at Mar-a-Lago and then posted on X threatening the licenses of local broadcasters, attaching one of Trump's recent messages attacking news coverage of the war. Carr wrote that 'Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions -- also known as the fake news -- have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.' Defense Secretary Hegseth made his media criticism the centerpiece of a Pentagon briefing, suggesting networks swap banners such as 'Mideast War Intensifies' for 'Iran Increasingly Desperate.' Hegseth also stated 'The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better,' regarding CNN, prompting gasps from journalists. Trump himself used words like 'criminal' and 'unpatriotic' to describe media coverage. The coordinated assault on press freedom during wartime -- using regulatory threats to suppress unfavorable coverage of an ongoing military conflict -- represented a dangerous escalation of Trump's war on media.

"Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions -- also known as the fake news -- have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up" — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr posted on X after visiting Trump at Mar-a-Lago, threatening broadcast licenses over critical Iran war coverage