Former President Donald Trump expressed frustration with NBC and CNN for not airing his Iowa Caucus victory speech in its entirety, suggesting that they should face consequences, including the revocation of their “licenses.” While Trump’s comments may appeal to his supporters, it’s important to clarify that cable news networks, including CNN and MSNBC, are not regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and they do not hold licenses in the same way that over-the-air broadcasters do.
During the Iowa Caucus, Trump’s victory speech included baseless claims about being a victim of a “deep state” conspiracy, which prompted both CNN and MSNBC to cut away from the live coverage after airing portions of the speech. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow explained their decision by citing the responsibility of news organizations not to provide an unfiltered platform for statements they deem untrue.
Trump’s response to the networks’ decisions was to assert that they are “crooked” and “dishonest” and should have their “licenses or whatever they have” taken away. However, this statement reveals a lack of understanding of the media landscape, as cable news channels operate without FCC licenses.
While some may interpret Trump’s remarks as a serious threat, it’s essential to recognize that cable news networks can be held accountable through legal means, such as defamation lawsuits. Trump’s rhetoric, often perceived as hyperbolic, may be aimed at playing to his audience’s sentiments rather than indicating a concrete plan to revoke media licenses.
The potential threat to silence media criticism raises concerns about its implications for the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech and the press. Trump’s remarks also seem contradictory to the traditionally conservative stance of advocating for limited government intervention. While Trump’s surrogates may downplay his comments as jokes, the seriousness of silencing the media raises questions about the boundaries of political discourse and the role of the government in regulating the press.
There is a reason that we and other news organizations have generally stopped giving an unfiltered live platform to remarks by former President Trump.
It is not out of spite. It is not a decision that we relish. It is a decision that we regularly revisit. and honestly, earnestly.
It is not an easy decision, but there is a cost to us as a news organization of knowingly broadcasting untrue things. And that is a fundamental truth of our business and who we are.
