The Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, sharply criticized broadcast companies on Saturday. This came after U.S. President Donald Trump labeled reports about Iran attacking five American refueling aircraft as "fake news."
In a post on the social platform X, Carr warned that broadcasters risk losing their licenses if they do not operate "in the public interest." He stated that companies spreading misinformation and distorting the news—what he termed fake news—have an opportunity to correct their course before their license renewals. Carr attached a statement Trump had posted earlier on Truth Social to his message.
Carr added that rebuilding public trust in the media is critical, noting that the media has labeled itself with the fake news tag.
Reports emerged on Friday claiming that Iran launched a missile strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, hitting five U.S. military refueling planes. On Saturday, Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the report a "deliberately misleading headline" and singling out The New York Times and other outlets he described as "inferior." Trump also stated that, of the five Air Force refueling aircraft reportedly damaged in the Iranian strike on Saudi Arabia, four were "almost unscathed and have returned to service."
He mentioned that one aircraft sustained slightly more damage but would soon be back in operation.
On the same day, Trump again called for more countries to send naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz to protect oil interests in the region.
Late Friday, Trump claimed that Iran had been "completely defeated and wants a deal," but added that the proposed agreement was not acceptable to him. This statement came two weeks after the U.S. and Israel conducted a joint military operation against Iran.
Shortly before that announcement, Trump declared that U.S. forces had bombed Kharg Island—a key Iranian oil hub and its primary oil export terminal. Iran's military vowed that if more of its energy facilities were attacked, it would strike oil and gas infrastructure associated with the U.S. across the Middle East.
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