FCC Chair Warns Broadcasters of License Risks for News Distortions

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr issued a public warning to broadcasters on Saturday, cautioning that those airing what he described as hoaxes and news distortions risk losing their licenses ahead of upcoming renewals. The statement came amid President Donald Trump's sharp criticism of media coverage surrounding the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations in Iran, particularly reports on damage to American aircraft.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Carr referenced a message from Trump on Truth Social, where the president disputed headlines about an Iranian missile strike on five U.S. Air Force tanker planes at a base in Saudi Arabia. Trump described the coverage as intentionally misleading, asserting that four of the five planes sustained virtually no damage and were already back in service. He specifically called out The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, claiming their reporting aimed to undermine U.S. efforts in the conflict. "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!"