Can Trump take CBS off air for interviewing Kamala Harris?

Former President Donald Trump’s ongoing attacks on the mainstream news media have intensified in the final weeks of the 2024 presidential election. Trump has a history of openly criticizing journalists and news outlets that he perceives as unfavorable, often labeling the news media as “the enemy of the people.” However, his recent threats to leverage the government to punish broadcast news networks that air content he disapproves of have sparked widespread concern.

One of Trump’s main targets has been CBS, which he accuses of selectively editing an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris that aired on 60 Minutes. Despite Trump’s decision to back out of his own 60 Minutes interview, he has repeatedly slammed CBS for alleged bias in their coverage. Trump took to social media to demand that CBS be taken off the air for what he termed as “election interference” and insisted that the network should lose its license.

Trump’s relentless campaign against CBS has brought into question the extent of a president’s authority over broadcast television licensing and the potential implications for media freedom.

The controversy surrounding CBS stems from a discrepancy in the presentation of Harris’s response to a question about the U.S.’s influence on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Contrasts between a preview clip on Face the Nation and the actual interview on 60 Minutes have fueled Trump’s allegations of bias against Harris.

Despite CBS’s explanation that the editing was for brevity and clarity, Trump has persisted in his attacks on the network, going so far as to threaten subpoena of their records during a recent Fox News interview.

But can the president actually revoke broadcast licenses?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing broadcasting to ensure it serves the public interest. While major networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC do not require licenses for news content production, local affiliates do need FCC approval.

The FCC’s Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has dismissed Trump’s accusations as baseless and clarified that the agency does not revoke licenses over disagreements with content. Legal experts suggest that any attempt to revoke licenses would involve a lengthy process and face significant legal hurdles.

In the past, Trump has targeted other news outlets, including ABC and Comcast, which owns NBC and MSNBC. His threats to investigate these media conglomerates have sparked concerns about the implications for press freedom and First Amendment rights.

While Trump’s aggressive rhetoric against the media is not new, legal experts emphasize that his ability to influence broadcast licensing is limited by existing laws and regulatory processes. Despite the potential for chilling effects on free speech, experts argue that the practical challenges of revoking licenses make such threats unlikely to materialize.

As the 2024 election draws nearer, Trump’s ongoing battle with the news media raises broader questions about the intersection of political power and media freedom in the United States.