Trump wants FCC to revoke CBS broadcast license

• President Donald Trump is calling on the FCC to revoke CBS’ broadcast license. He said stories aired on Sunday about Ukraine and Greenland were inaccurate and fraudulent.
• Trump sued CBS and “60 Minutes,” claiming they edited the interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris during the campaign to make her look better.
• There are more than 200 CBS stations around the country, CBS only owns 28 of them.

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President Donald Trump called for CBS’ broadcast license to be revoked after “60 Minutes” aired two stories he viewed as inaccurate and fraudulent.

What did Trump say?

The president posted on Truth Social on Sunday, April 13, saying CBS News should lose its license.

“They are not a ‘News Show,’ but a dishonest Political Operative simply disguised as ‘News,’ and must be responsible for what they have done, and are doing. They should lose their license,” Trump said in the post.

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The president called on the Federal Communications Commission, led by Republican Chairman Brendan Carr, to impose maximum fines and punishment for what he described as “unlawful and illegal behavior.”

“CBS is out of control, at levels never seen before, and they should pay a big price for this,” Trump posted. 

What prompted Trump’s renewed call to revoke the license?

On Sunday, “60 Minutes” aired an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The piece pointed out that Trump praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticized Zelenskyy. 

“I believe Russian narratives are prevailing in the U.S.,” Zelenskyy said.  

Trump denied Zelenskyy’s comments and said he is working to end the war.

“I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS WAR, BUT AM WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION TO STOP,” Trump posted on social media.

“60 Minutes” also aired a piece on Greenland, which included interviews with residents who said they were offended by the president’s effort to acquire the autonomous Danish territory for the United States.

“When he mentioned Greenland like it was a toy or something … we all noticed that in Greenland. All of us,” Greenland political elder Aqqaluk Lynge said.

The president said the piece cast “our Country, as led by me, falsely, inaccurately, and fraudulently.” Trump also said he was “so honored to be suing 60 Minutes, CBS Fake News, and Paramount, over their fraudulent, beyond recognition, reporting.”

What’s the status of the Trump lawsuit against 60 Minutes and CBS?

Trump filed a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against CBS for what he calls deceptive editing of an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump said CBS edited a botched answer to make her look better. Reporting indicates Trump and CBS are about to enter mediation in an attempt to settle. 

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Who owns the broadcast licenses?

Taking CBS off the air would be more difficult than just revoking a license. There are more than 200 CBS stations around the country — CBS only owns 28 of them. Companies with vast portfolios of stations in multiple cities own the rest, and these stations also broadcast FOX, ABC and NBC.

Some companies even own what are called duopolies which broadcast CBS and another network simultaneously.