Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr signaled the agency may take action against NBC over its coverage of President Trump, saying on Fox News that the FCC is “looking at a lot of actions” after Trump called for NBC’s Kristen Welker to face “rebuke or punishment” for describing his endorsement record as having “mixed results.”
Carr appeared on Fox News’s “The Sunday Briefing” on September 6 and suggested that broadcasters receiving taxpayer-subsidized distribution should operate in the public interest rather than “some sort of narrow partisan interest.” He did not clearly confirm whether Trump had formally filed a complaint but indicated that potential enforcement was under consideration.
“I think President Trump is over the target, and we’re looking at a lot of actions,” Carr said, according to The Hill. He specifically mentioned the FCC may issue guidance to remind broadcasters of their obligations regarding “fake polls” that could suppress voter turnout ahead of the midterms.
Trump’s complaint against Welker, the host of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” came after she teased an upcoming episode on August 30 by noting that Trump-endorsed candidates had achieved “mixed results” in the 2026 Republican primaries. According to Ballotpedia, Trump has compiled a 96-percent winning record in this year’s primaries, though losses included Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and MyPillow founder Mike Lindell. Trump posted on Truth Social that Welker had committed a “purposeful inaccuracy” and would be reported to the FCC.
NBC News responded by standing by Welker, calling her “one of the best in the business,” according to The Hill.
A Pattern of FCC Pressure on Broadcasters
Carr’s latest signal continues a pattern that began in March 2026, when he threatened broadcasters’ licenses over their coverage of the Iran war after Trump made similar complaints on social media. At that time, Carr stated that broadcast licenses are not a “property right” and that networks could lose them if they failed to operate in the public interest, according to reporting from the BBC and CBS News.
The FCC has since launched investigations into NBC and ABC’s diversity, equity and inclusion hiring practices. ABC filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the FCC in August 2026, arguing that the agency’s early review of its broadcast licenses violates free speech protections and “chills speech ahead of the fast-approaching 2026 general election,” according to USA Today. The FCC responded by asking a federal judge to dismiss ABC’s lawsuit, calling it meritless.
Critics have denounced Trump’s use of the FCC as a tool to intimidate journalists ahead of the midterms. Some Republicans, however, have warned against enforcing regulatory penalties on broadcasters. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, warned in 2025 that Carr’s threats of action against ABC were “dangerous as hell,” according to The Hill.
Carr has also praised CBS News under its new editor Bari Weiss, a former columnist, as the network operates under parent company Paramount, led by Trump ally and billionaire David Ellison. Trump has frequently called on the FCC, historically an independent commission, to apply pressure on leading broadcasters throughout his second term.
Sources
- The Daily Beast — Carr’s statement that the FCC is “looking at a lot of actions” and his rationale about taxpayer-subsidized distribution
- The Hill — Carr’s appearance on Fox News, Trump’s 96% primary endorsement record, NBC’s statement supporting Welker, and Sen. Cruz’s prior warning
- The Guardian — Trump’s August 30 call for FCC action against Welker over the “mixed results” comment
- BBC News — Carr’s March 2026 threat to revoke broadcasters’ licenses over Iran war coverage
- USA Today — ABC’s First Amendment lawsuit and accusation that the FCC is chilling speech
- CNN — Carr’s initial license threat in March 2026
