Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr warned US broadcasters Saturday that they could lose their operating licenses if they continue to air what he called "hoaxes and news distortions" regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran, echoing strong criticism from President Donald Trump.

FCC Issues Stern Warning

Carr took to social media to issue his threat, stating that broadcasters running "fake news" now have a chance to "correct course before their license renewals come up." He underscored that federal law requires broadcasters to "operate in the public interest," and failure to do so would result in losing their licenses. Under the Communications Act of 1934, the FCC controls the airwaves—everything from broadcast TV and radio to wireless services.

The warning from the FCC chair came just hours after President Trump posted a lengthy complaint on Truth Social, specifically targeting media coverage of the Iran war. Carr's post directly copied Trump's complaint, essentially echoing the White House's anger at media coverage of the war.

President Slams Media Over War Reporting

President Trump's social media post criticized what he termed an "intentionally misleading headline by the Fake News Media" concerning an incident involving five US tanker planes. The Wall Street Journal had reported Friday that these refueling tankers were struck during an Iranian missile attack on the Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia.

Trump disputed this, claiming that while the base was hit, the planes were not "struck" or "destroyed." He asserted that four of the five tankers sustained "virtually no damage" and were already back in service. The president singled out the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, along with other "Lowlife 'Papers' and Media," accusing them of wanting the US to "lose the War." He called their reporting "the exact opposite of the actual facts!" Trump went on to describe those responsible for such reporting as "truly sick and demented people that have no idea the damage they cause the United States of America."

Administration's Broader Media Scrutiny

The FCC chair's statement and the president's remarks follow sustained complaints from the administration about its portrayal by what it often derisively calls "the mainstream media." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also publicly lambasted media coverage of the conflict just days earlier. On Friday, Hegseth offered a detailed critique of what he labeled "fake news" in relation to reporting on US-Israeli actions in Iran.

Hegseth specifically took issue with headlines such as "Mideast war intensifies," especially when paired with visuals of civilian or energy targets hit by Iran. He suggested alternative framing, proposing headlines like "Iran increasingly desperate" instead. The Defense Secretary also commented on the recent acquisition of CNN parent company Warner Bros Discovery by Paramount Skydance, owned by multibillionaire Larry Ellison and his son David Ellison, expressing hope that "the sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better." Ellison, in his first interview as Paramount CEO, had pledged to support CNN's editorial independence.

Condemnation and Free Speech Concerns Mount

Politicians and free-speech groups immediately slammed Carr, calling his threat a form of censorship. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii stated that Carr's comments amounted to "a clear directive to provide positive war coverage or else licenses may not be renewed." Schatz emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting, "This is worse than the comedian stuff, and by a lot. The stakes here are much higher. He’s not talking about late night shows, he’s talking about how a war is covered."

Aaron Terr, the director of public advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), also denounced Carr's efforts to silence critical war coverage. Terr unequivocally stated, "The First Amendment doesn’t allow the government to censor information about the war it’s waging." Carr's done this before. Last year, he called on ABC and its distributors to "find ways to change conduct, to take action" regarding comedian Jimmy Kimmel, whose late-night show had been critical of the president. Carr was quoted on a podcast saying, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," in reference to Kimmel. ABC temporarily suspended Kimmel’s show following those comments.

The war is deeply unpopular with American voters. A recent Quinnipiac poll revealed that 53 percent of US voters oppose the military action against Iran, a figure that includes 89 percent of Democrats and 60 percent of independent voters.

Critics say the Trump administration is weaponizing government power to punish outlets that criticize the war—a serious threat to press freedom.