Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr on Saturday warned broadcast television and radio stations they could face license revocation if they air false or misleading reports about the escalating conflict involving Iran. The warning, posted on X, came after President Donald Trump criticized major news organizations for their coverage of recent events.
Carr stated that broadcasters disseminating inaccurate information should “correct course” before their license renewals are considered. “The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not,” he wrote. He did not name specific broadcasters at risk.
The FCC chair’s statement included a screenshot of a post from Trump on his Truth Social platform, where the former president accused The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal of intentionally misrepresenting developments in the war. Trump specifically disputed reports that Iranian strikes had destroyed tanker aircraft at a Saudi base, claiming the planes were undamaged and largely operational.
The FCC regulates broadcast licenses, which are periodically renewed. Carr’s threat reflects a more assertive approach by the agency toward broadcasters’ content, particularly regarding political matters. According to The New York Times, This represents not an isolated incident, but part of a pattern of increased scrutiny under Carr’s leadership.
Carr has repeatedly emphasized the FCC’s “public interest” standard and a rarely used “news distortion” policy as potential grounds for reviewing station programming. Earlier this year, CBS reportedly decided against airing an interview with Texas state Representative James Talarico on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” after network lawyers cautioned it could trigger the FCC’s “equal time” rule, which mandates equal airtime for political candidates. The FCC has recently indicated that late-night talk shows may not be exempt from this rule, and has initiated enforcement actions related to a similar interview on ABC’s “The View.”
Critics, including former FCC officials, have expressed concern that invoking these authorities to challenge editorial decisions could infringe on press freedom. Carr has defended his approach as necessary to ensure broadcasters fulfill their legal obligations. The Washington Post reported that Carr’s current stance contrasts with his earlier views, resurfacing a 2019 post on X where he stated the FCC “does not have a roving mandate to police speech in the name of the ‘public interest.’”
The escalating tensions between the FCC and broadcasters come as the conflict involving Iran continues to unfold following U.S. And Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. As of Saturday, the situation remained fluid, with no immediate indication of a de-escalation. The FCC has not announced any specific enforcement actions related to coverage of the conflict, and the agency has not responded to requests for further comment.
