Trump’s FCC Pick Sends Warning Letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger

President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman, Brendan Carr, wasted no time signaling a new era of accountability for major media corporations. In a strongly worded letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger, Carr called out the declining trust in national news outlets like ABC News and suggested that the network’s recent actions have further eroded public confidence.

Carr highlighted ABC News’ $15 million settlement with President Trump’s future presidential foundation and an additional $1 million in legal fees to resolve a defamation case. The case stemmed from a This Week broadcast in March where anchor George Stephanopoulos repeatedly claimed Trump was “found liable for rape” in the E. Jean Carroll case.

Stephanopoulos, a former Democratic strategist, ignored warnings to avoid using the term “rape,” despite its inaccuracy in the context of the legal ruling. Carr suggested that such behavior from national news outlets only reinforces the public’s growing mistrust.

Carr emphasized the stark contrast between Americans’ trust in local media versus national networks. While polling shows local outlets are viewed more favorably, national organizations like ABC News face widespread skepticism.

Carr criticized Disney’s focus on its paid streaming services at the expense of its local affiliates, noting, “The fact that a massive trust divide has emerged between local news outlets and national programmers like ABC only increases the importance of retransmission consent revenues remaining available for local broadcast TV stations to invest in their local news operations and content that serves their communities.”

Carr’s letter signals a clear shift in how the FCC under Trump’s leadership plans to engage with media corporations. By targeting trust deficits and prioritizing local media, the incoming administration appears set on challenging the perceived bias and irresponsibility of national networks.

As Trump prepares to take office, his administration’s proactive stance on holding media giants accountable underscores the broader promise to restore integrity in American institutions.

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