FCC chair threatens TV networks over Iran war coverage

Iran War: Trump warns of more strikes, call on allies

President Trump threatened more strikes on Iran's main oil export hub Kharg Island and ​said he was not ready for a deal with Tehran to end the war which has shut off the vital Strait of Hormuz and caused chaos in global energy markets.

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is threatening to revoke TV broadcasters’ licenses over their coverage of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. 

Brendan Carr, who heads the agency responsible for licensing TV and radio networks like ABC, CBS and NBC, repeated his threats Saturday after President Trump heavily criticized media coverage of the war. 

Here’s the latest: 

What did Trump and Brendan Carr say? 

What they're saying:

President Trump attacked the "fake news media" on social media Saturday, accusing them of intentionally misleading headlines as attacks against Iran continue and war expands in the Middle East. 

An NBC News live feed airs a clip from President Donald Trump's Truth Social video announcing that the United States and Israel had launched an attack on Iran the morning of Feb. 28, 2026. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

"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 on his Truth Social platform Saturday. 

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Carr, a Trump appointee, boosted Trump’s comments on X, warning 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."  

"The law is clear.  Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not," he wrote. 

The other side:

The comments drew swift backlash from Democrats. 

"Constitutional law 101: it’s illegal for the government to censor free speech it just doesn’t like about Trump’s Iran war," Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote on X. "This threat is straight out of the authoritarian playbook."

Can the FCC revoke TV licenses?

Big picture view:

The FCC issues licenses for television and radio broadcasters, but not for cable networks such as CNN and MSNBC, according to Reuters. It also doesn’t regulate internet news or other websites, like The New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. 

Dig deeper:

Trump has frequently attacked media outlets when they run stories he believes are critical of him and his administration. In the past, he’s called for revoking the licenses of some outlets. Carr’s actions so far have been closely aligned with Trump’s views. 

FILE - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks to Brendan Carr, his intended pick for Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, as he attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 202

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When the FCC approved a merger involving CBS’ parent company, the network’s new owners committed to making "significant changes" at the broadcast network — a move Carr praised in his statement approving the deal. And in November, Carr reshared a Trump social media post that called for comedian Seth Meyers to be fired from NBC.

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The Trump administration has also taken steps to clamp down on talk shows, which the FCC has suggested may be "motivated by partisan purposes." In February, the FCC said it was investigating ABC’s "The View" over possible violations of the requirement that broadcast stations give equal time to political candidates when they appear on-air. The investigation was announced after James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the Senate in Texas, appeared on "The View" on Feb. 2. 

Iran war latest

The joint attack on Iran, known in the U.S. as Operation Epic Fury, has killed at least 13 service members. About 140 U.S. service members have been injured, including eight severely. In Iran, more than 1,300 people have been killed so far. 

RELATED: Iran war updates: Countries report new attacks; Iran vows to kill Netanyahu

Iran's Health Ministry says 223 women and 202 children are among those killed. In Israel, 12 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire since the war started. More have been injured.

Get the latest updates here.