Trump’s Incoming FCC Chair Sends Cryptic Letter to CEO of ABC News’s Parent Company, Claims Outlet ‘Contributed To… Erosion in Public Trust’
Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via AP, Pool, File
The man President-elect Donald Trump appointed to lead the Federal Communications Commission sent Disney CEO Bob Iger a cryptic letter regarding ABC News, according to CNN’s Brian Stelter.
Brendan Carr, who will chair the FCC, bemoaned what he called an “erosion in public trust,” which he said the Disney-owned news organization is partly responsible for.
“Dear Mr. Iger, Americans no longer trust the national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly,” begins the letter obtained by Stelter on Monday.
Carr cited polling data on public perceptions of media and pointed to ABC News’s recent decision to settle a defamation case Trump brought against the outlet. ABC News agreed to pay $15 million plus $1 million in attorneys’ fees. The suit stems from a remark by George Stephanopoulos, who said Trump was found civilly liable for “rape” after being found liable for sexual abuse.
“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,” added, Carr, who also praised local news media as a more trustworthy source.
Stelter observed, “In effect, [Carr] is positioning himself as a friend to local media — and an antagonist to corporate owners.” The reporter added that historically, the FCC has not had the ability to influence programming, “but Carr seems ready to try.”
The letter is just the latest salvo in Trump’s long-running war on the media, which he has derided as “fake news” and “the enemy of the people” for years. He recently sued CBS News over an interview 60 Minutes conducted with Vice President Kamala Harris. Additionally, he has sued pollster Ann Selzer, her polling firm, The Des Moines Register, and parent company Gannett after Selzer released a poll unfavorable to Trump. That survey indicated Harris ahead by three points, but Trump ended up winning the state by 13.
