While FCC Chairman Brendan Carr did not explicitly state an interview last week that the FCC would censor comedians like Stephen Colbert for hurting President Donald Trump's feelings, his recent statements and actions have sparked concerns.
The concerns are about potential censorship, particularly in the context of CBS's cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
“The American people simply do not trust the mainstream media.”@BrendanCarrFCC says the media industry across the country needs a course correction. pic.twitter.com/Yn3dpp29vR
— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) July 25, 2025
In a Fox News interview last week, Carr discussed the cancellation of Colbert’s show, which CBS announced would end in May 2026, citing financial losses of approximately $40 million annually. Carr framed the cancellation as part of a broader "course correction" for legacy media, suggesting that outlets need to return to "unbiased, trustworthy journalism" to avoid economic fallout, as seen with Colbert’s show.
He criticized what he called the "partisan circus" of media, implying that shows like Colbert’s, which he described as acting like a "loyal DNC spokesperson," face consequences due to market forces rather than direct government intervention.
When directly asked by Fox News host Bill Hemmer whether Trump played a role in Colbert’s cancellation, Carr gave a non-committal response, saying, “Look at what is happening. NPR has been defunded, PBS has been defunded, Colbert is getting canceled,” and attributed these outcomes to Trump’s broader challenge against "legacy media gatekeepers." He avoided confirming or denying Trump’s direct involvement, which some interpreted as implying political influence without evidence.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr on whether The View is in the crosshairs of the Trump admin:
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 24, 2025
“It’s entirely possible that there’s issues over there … Once President Trump has exposed these media gatekeepers and smashed this facade there’s a lot of consequences”
pic.twitter.com/usCPsRl9n6
Carr’s comments, combined with his role in approving the Paramount-Skydance merger have fueled speculation about political motivations.
Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and media watchdogs, have raised concerns that Carr’s rhetoric aligns with Trump’s agenda to target media outlets critical of him. For instance, Carr’s support for Skydance’s commitment to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and install an ombudsman to address bias at CBS News has been seen as aligning with a broader push against perceived liberal bias in media.
🚨 WATCH: Fox News’ Alicia Acuna warns that if the FCC takes action against The View over bias against Trump this could lead to action against Fox from future administrations who don’t like its stance:
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) July 27, 2025
“The View’s political bias is clearly there, but I also think that this is… pic.twitter.com/sIfKcaVOO6
Additionally, Carr’s posts on X and public statements have emphasized enforcing the FCC’s "public interest" obligations for broadcasters, which some fear could be used to pressure networks over content. His remarks about The View being potentially “in the crosshairs” after co-host Joy Behar’s criticism of Trump further heightened concerns about targeting outspoken critics. However, no direct evidence from the interview or other sources confirms that Carr explicitly threatened censorship of comedians for hurting Trump’s feelings. Instead, his comments focus on economic and regulatory pressures, which critics argue could indirectly chill free speech.
Critics like Jamie Raskin and groups like Free Press have accused Carr of using his position to advance Trump’s vendettas against media, citing his investigations into news content (e.g., CBS’s 60 Minutes) and his advocacy for regulating tech and media for perceived bias. However, Carr’s defenders argue he is addressing public distrust in media and promoting accountability, not censorship.