Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican from Georgia, has requested the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to assess broadcast decisions by ABC, NBC, and CBS. These networks declined to air or cut short President Donald Trump’s primetime address on July 16.
In the letter acquired by Fox News Digital, Carter addressed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. He questioned if the networks violated their duty to serve the public interest and asked if these actions should impact future broadcast license reviews.
“The public airwaves should inform the American people,” Carter wrote. “They should not be used by corporate executives to determine what matters of national importance Americans may hear.”
Carter expressed his concerns over the networks’ refusal to air Trump’s remarks. Although networks may disagree, airing the President’s statements is crucial to inform the audience.
President Trump’s address from the White House East Room focused on election security. He critiqued ABC, NBC, and CNN for avoiding the live coverage of his speech.
Carter highlighted the importance of exposing potential foreign interference in elections. He maintained that Americans should hear information directly from their President to assess its relevance independently.
ABC and NBC chose not to broadcast the speech on primary networks, while CBS switched away mid-speech. Carter states that streaming services do not adequately replace free television, especially for those lacking broadband access.
Following Trump’s address, he called for revoking ABC and NBC licenses, accusing them of protecting the radical left. The speech emphasized the declassification and release of intelligence documents on election infrastructure vulnerabilities.
President Trump used the platform to advocate for election integrity, stressing that trust is essential to maintaining national greatness.
Documents released by the White House alleged vulnerabilities in voting systems and China acquiring U.S. voter data. Fox News Digital has not independently verified these documents or claims.
ABC and NBC streamed Trump’s speech on digital platforms and later summarized it in special reports. CBS initially aired analysis but joined late and cut away post-criticism.
Carter insists the address merited live coverage due to significant allegations concerning election integrity and national security.
Fox News Digital contacted the FCC, ABC, NBC, and CBS for comments regarding Carter’s inquiry.