FCC Chair Threatens to Revoke Broadcast Licenses Over Iran War Coverage

Trump praises FCC chair's warning to media outlets over 'hoaxes and distortions' related to Iran conflict

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:52am

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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr has threatened to revoke the licenses of broadcasters who he claims are peddling 'hoaxes and distortions' related to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Former President Trump praised Carr's warning, saying he was 'so thrilled' to see the FCC taking action against media outlets he described as the 'radical leftwing press' for sharing AI-generated content from Iran that he called a 'disinformation weapon'.

Why it matters

This move by the FCC chair represents an escalation in the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration, its allies, and the media over coverage of national security issues. It raises concerns about potential government overreach and censorship, as well as the role of AI-generated content in spreading misinformation during times of conflict.

The details

Carr warned that broadcasters must 'operate in the public interest' or risk losing their licenses, which are renewed every 8 years. He said the American people have 'subsidized broadcasters to the tune of billions of dollars' by providing free access to the nation's airwaves, and that it is 'very important to bring trust back into media, which has earned itself the label of fake news.' Trump specifically criticized outlets for sharing AI-generated clips that claimed to show damage to US military assets, which he said were 'phony' and 'false information' meant to convey an impression of Iranian military strength.

  • On March 16, 2026, FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke the licenses of broadcasters over their coverage of the Iran conflict.
  • On March 18, 2026, former President Trump praised Carr's warning on his Truth Social platform.

The players

Brendan Carr

The current chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who has threatened to revoke the licenses of broadcasters over their coverage of the Iran conflict.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who praised FCC chair Brendan Carr's threat to revoke broadcast licenses over 'hoaxes and distortions' related to the Iran war.

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What they’re saying

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

— Brendan Carr, FCC Chair

“I am so thrilled to see Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), looking at the licenses of some of these Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic 'News' Organizations.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

The FCC will likely continue to monitor media coverage of the Iran conflict and could take action to revoke the licenses of broadcasters it deems to be spreading 'hoaxes and distortions', though it remains to be seen how aggressively they will pursue this.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between the government, particularly the Trump administration and its allies, and the media over coverage of national security issues. It raises concerns about potential censorship and the role of AI-generated content in spreading misinformation during times of conflict.