FCC Chair Hits Back at Trump’s Demand for CBS License to Be Revoked: ‘These Threats Against Free Speech Are Serious’

AP Photo/Alex Brando

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel hit back at former President Donald Trump in a Thursday statement after he called for the FCC to strip CBS of its broadcast license for interviewing Vice President Kamala Harris.

“60 Minutes is a major part of the News Organization of CBS, which has just created the Greatest Fraud in Broadcast History. CBS should lose its license, and it should be bid out to the Highest Bidder, as should all other Broadcast Licenses, because they are just as corrupt as CBS — and maybe even WORSE!” fumed the former president and GOP nominee, adding later:

With me, 60 Minutes does the exact opposite! They take everything I say, realize how totally BRILLIANT it is, and take it out. So, with Kamala they add, with “TRUMP,” they delete. Like the Democrat Party, THEY ARE A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY!

Notably, it is a standard and long-held practice for 60 Minutes and most other broadcast news outlets to edit down lengthy interviews and segments, which does not alter the content.  60 Minutes released “overtime” clips from the interview that did not make the final cut for the program.

Rosenworcel highlighted the serious nature of Trump’s post, writing, “While repeated attacks against broadcast stations by the former President may now be familiar, these threats against free speech are serious and should not be ignored.” She added:

As I’ve said before, the First Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy. The FCC does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage.

The FCC statement concluded, “Chairwoman Rosenworcel has previously spoken out against efforts by political candidates or government officials to influence the content shared by broadcast stations. Following the Presidential debate in September, she rejected calls by former President Trump to revoke ABC’s license. She has also warned against threats by the Florida government against broadcast stations.”