Cruz warns conservatives 'will regret' FCC censorship push against ABC, other media outlets

WASHINGTON — Sen. Ted Cruz on his Verdict with Ted Cruz podcast Friday warned that a conservative effort to spur the Federal Communications Commission to sanction ABC and other outlets could backfire, saying that “every conservative in America … will regret it” if a censorship precedent is established. His remarks come as ABC suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely after he suggested the alleged assassin of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was a fellow MAGA supporter, prompting renewed debate over the network’s handling of the case and the FCC’s public-interest obligations.

Cruz took aim at FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s framing of the agency’s enforcement powers, saying in the podcast that Carr’s posture toward stations accused of misrepresentation or false statements “is dangerous as hell.” He quoted Carr’s statements and pressed the point that government officials should not decide which speech is permissible or threaten to pull a license as a form of punishment. “What he is saying is Jimmy Kimmel was lying. That’s true, he was lying, and lying to the American people is not in the public interest,” Cruz said. “He threatens explicitly—we're going to cancel ABC News' license. We're going to take him off the air, so ABC cannot broadcast anymore. … He threatens it.” Cruz argued that remedies exist when a broadcaster wrongfully claims facts, including defamation lawsuits, and urged reliance on the judicial process rather than government censorship.

Cruz warned that while conservatives may feel empowered by the prospect of government power over media, the long-term consequences could be dire. He warned that the next Democratic administration could deploy the same tool against voices on the right if such power were normalized. “The next Democrat FCC—they will silence us,” he said, adding that officials have characterized speech that counters a left-leaning narrative as misinformation. He suggested that if a station commits slander about Kirk or his family, existing civil remedies are available, but cautioned against giving the government a broad, discretionary power over what speech stays on the air.

The congressman’s remarks were not immediately followed by a response from his office to Fox News Digital.

Meanwhile, during a White House appearance on Friday, President Donald Trump said he did not agree with Cruz’s broader warning and described Carr as “a courageous American patriot.” Trump argued that networks seeking license renewals should demonstrate honesty and integrity, and he defended Carr’s stance as protecting the airwaves from misuse. “Brendan Carr is an incredible American patriot with courage,” Trump said. “I remember in the old days, networks would want to get re-licensed; they had to show honesty and integrity.” Trump’s comments add a presidential tone to a debate that centers on balancing free speech with broadcaster responsibilities and the government’s role in licensing.

The episode is set against a broader FCC debate about how aggressively the agency should enforce the public-interest standard. The commission’s authority rests on licenses granted to broadcasters with the expectation they operate in the public interest, convenience, and necessity. The First Amendment protects free expression, but the FCC can deny or revoke licenses for misrepresentation, fraud, or a lack of candor, according to agency policy. Critics argue that any expansive use of that power could chill speech, especially from political outlets, while supporters contend it is necessary to curb misinformation and ensure accountability.

Trump’s comments come as media-ethics debates continue to unfold in Washington, with attention to how government oversight intersects with political speech. The conversation is not new to Capitol Hill, but it has taken on heightened intensity in the wake of Kimmel’s remarks and the ongoing public discussion about media accountability.

In a related but earlier development, a nonprofit group called the Media and Democracy Project filed a 2023 petition with the FCC asking that the license renewal of a Fox-owned local station in Philadelphia be denied over election-related coverage. The FCC, then under Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, rejected the petition in January, four days before President Trump’s inauguration for his second term, saying it would be fundamentally at odds with the First Amendment for the government to deny renewals based on protected speech and content. The episode is cited in Cruz’s broader critique of government licensing as a tool for political leverage, underscoring how past agency decisions continue to shape today’s debate over speech, media, and public duty.

Cruz’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.

The broader implication of the discourse is a struggle over the balance between protecting the airwaves from misinformation and preserving the freedom of the press. As the FCC weighs how vigorously to enforce its public-interest obligations, political actors on both sides of the aisle are watching closely for how any enforcement action could influence future debates over media coverage and the regulation of broadcast speech.