Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr said Sunday that the agency is considering a range of enforcement measures after President Trump called for NBC News to be penalized over comments made by anchor Kristen Welker.
Appearing on Fox News's "The Sunday Briefing," Carr said broadcasters are required to serve the public interest, not "some sort of narrow partisan interest." He echoed Trump's criticism and said the FCC is reviewing possible actions.
"I think President Trump is over the target, and we're looking at a lot of actions," Carr said. He pointed to concerns about the airing of "fake polls," suggesting the FCC could soon issue guidance reminding stations of their obligations not to broadcast deceptive surveys, particularly those that might suppress voter turnout before the fall elections.
The dispute stems from Welker's remarks on a Washington, D.C., NBC affiliate last Sunday, where she teased an upcoming episode of "Meet the Press" and said Trump would "loom large over" the midterms, while also noting that Trump-endorsed candidates have had "mixed results" in Republican primaries.
According to Ballotpedia, Trump has backed winners in 96 percent of this year's primaries. Notable losses include Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, and South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
Trump responded on Truth Social, asking how anyone could make such statements while working on "freely given Public Airwaves," and said Welker would be reported to the FCC for "rebuke or punishment." NBC News has defended Welker, calling her "one of the best in the business."
This is not the first time Trump has pushed the FCC to act against broadcasters. Carr has already opened investigations into diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring practices at NBC and ABC. The chair has also praised CBS News under its new editor, Bar Weiss, amid the network's ownership transition under Paramount Skydance, led by Trump ally David Ellison.
Critics argue that Trump is using the FCC to intimidate journalists ahead of the midterms. Some Republicans have also cautioned against regulatory overreach. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, previously warned that Carr's threats against ABC were "dangerous as hell."
The FCC's independence has historically been a cornerstone of its authority, but under Carr, the agency has increasingly aligned with presidential priorities. The new push against NBC comes as Trump heads to Dallas for the RNC convention, with the midterm elections and economic concerns looming.
As the FCC weighs its next steps, the clash between the administration and major news networks shows no sign of easing. Trump's policy blitz has already drawn sharp criticism, and this latest confrontation could further escalate tensions between the White House and the press.
