FCC chair rejects Trump calls to revoke CBS's license, calls them 'threats against free speech'

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel says the agency won't address GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump's calls for CBS to lose its broadcast license – following revelations the network edited at least one of Democratic rival Kamala Harris' responses in a one-one "60 Minutes" interview that aired Monday.

Rosenworcel said in a statement the federal agency “does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage.”

Trump called the editing “threats against free speech.”

“While repeated attacks against broadcast stations by the former President may now be familiar, these threats against free speech are serious and should not be ignored,” Rosenworcel wrote. “As I’ve said before, the First Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy.”

On Thursday, Trump on Truth Social called the matter a "giant Fake News Scam,” and accusing “60 Minutes” of replacing Harris’ answers with another to “make her look better,” according to CNN. 

“60 Minutes is a major part of the News Organization of CBS, which has just created the Greatest Fraud in Broadcast History,” also wrote Trump, a former president who has long accused the mainstream media of working against him. “CBS should lose its license, and it should be bid out to the Highest Bidder, as should all other Broadcast Licenses, because they are just as corrupt as CBS – and maybe even WORSE!”

Rosenworcel in response also wrote: “While repeated attacks against broadcast stations by the former President may now be familiar, these threats against free speech are serious and should not be ignored,” Rosenworcel said. “As I’ve said before, the First Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy.”