FCC chairman warns broadcasters their licenses could be pulled for airing ‘fake news’ about Iran war

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr responded to President Trump’s criticism of major news outlets’ coverage of the ongoing war with Iran, warning Saturday that broadcasters accused of spreading “fake news” could face consequences during upcoming license renewals.Trump accused several prominent media outlets including the New York Times of publishing misleading reports about a recent military strike involving tanker aircraft at an airport in Saudi Arabia.
In a post on X, Carr shared a message Trump had published on Truth Social criticizing media coverage of the incident.
“Yet again, an intentionally misleading headline by the Fake News Media about the five tanker planes that were supposedly struck down at an Airport in Saudi Arabia, and of no further use,” Trump wrote.
The president said the strike occurred several days earlier and argued that the damage was overstated, claiming four of the five aircraft suffered “virtually no damage.”
“The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (in particular), and other Lowlife ‘Papers’ and Media actually want us to lose the War,” Trump wrote. “Their terrible reporting is the exact opposite of the actual facts.”
Carr echoed the president’s criticism in his own message directed at broadcasters, warning that federal law requires stations using the public airwaves to serve the public interest.
“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,” Carr wrote. “The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.”
Carr also argued that public trust in traditional media outlets has eroded, saying broadcasters benefit from access to the nation’s airwaves, which are licensed by the federal government.
“The American people have subsidized broadcasters to the tune of billions of dollars by providing free access to the nation’s airwaves,” he wrote.

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