Trump FCC Pick Tells Fox’s Maria Bartiromo He’ll End Government ‘Lawfare’ By ‘Last Name’ Against Elon Musk

Brendan Carr, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), vowed to “end” government “lawfare” by “last name” against people like billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk.

Musk, who emerged as Trump’s wealthiest supporter and close confidante during the election, operates the Starlink satellite internet service which, in 2020, was awarded an $885 million grant by the FCC only for the Democrat-led commission to later rescinded the funding in 2022. In doing so the commission cited Starlink’s inability to demonstrate it could effectively serve a sufficient number of unconnected rural households.

Carr, who previously served as general counsel for the agency and as aide to ex-FCC commissioner Ajit Pai, appeared on Fox Business show Mornings With Maria to speak with host Maria Bartiromo.

Closing out the interview, Bartiromo asked how Carr would be “ensuring everyone gets treated fairly.”

She said: “In the past you’ve said if your name is Musk, or somebody the administration doesn’t like, you are getting different treatment that has been the case the last couple years hasn’t it?”

Carr replied: “Look, that type of lawfare is going to end. For too long in this government, particularly over the last couple of years, your last name dictated how the government treated you. If your last name was Soros, well the commission bent over backwards and gave you a special unprecedented commission level shortcut to buy 200 radio stations. If your last name was Musk, then you lost $800 million dollar contracts you lawfully got. Everybody now gets a fair shake forward.”

“Will [George] Soros still be able to acquire 200 radio stations?” Bartiromo asked, referring to the billionaire’s deal to buy the Audacy radio network.

Carr responded: “There is a petition for reconsideration pending at the FCC right now and I want to take a hard look at that.”

Watch above on Fox Business.