It’s Time for FCC Chair Brendan Carr to Go

President Donald Trump hates late-night TV. Can you blame him?

The TV format has targeted him relentlessly for the past decade. It shows no signs of stopping, outside the confines of Fox News’ “Gutfeld!”

Nor, in a perfect world, should it stop.

He’s the president, and the country’s ability to mock the powerful is one of its many strengths. Late-night comics stood down when President Joe Biden stumbled through his presidency. That’s a stain on their creative legacy.

It’s not a sign that satirist should pull their punches. They don’t whenever Trump comes up.

Yes, Colbert and co. resort to chronic misinformation and clapter while targeting Trump. Still, as long as TV stations want them on the air, they should be free to say what they want.

Tell that to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.

The Republican stepped in it, big time, a few months ago during KimmelGate. The “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host misled viewers by suggesting Charlie Kirk’s killer was part of the MAGA movement.

Not. Remotely. True.

We all know what happened next, but Carr’s comments to podcaster Benny Johnson on the matter proved both chilling and politically dense.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”

There’s no evidence that Carr’s comments impacted the matter in any way. ABC’s Kimmel suspension lasted but a week. The media, hungry for a scoop that would prove Carr and/or President Trump forced ABC’s hand, found none.

It was still irresponsible, tone deaf and politically troubling. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, no shrinking violet, said as much.

And Carr just did it again.

President Trump attacked NBC’s Seth Meyers via Truth Social, saying he should be fired.

“NBC’s Seth Meyers is suffering from an incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS). He was viewed last night in an uncontrollable rage, likely due to the fact that his ‘show’ is a Ratings DISASTER. Aside from everything else, Meyers has no talent, and NBC should fire him, IMMEDIATELY!”

Now, Trump has shared similar messages over the years, raging against his TV critics like “Saturday Night Live.” He did so during the 2024 Oscars ceremony, trashing far-Left host Kimmel in real time.

It would be chilling if Trump ever used his power to silence his critics. So far, that’s not the case. (Don’t bother mentioning his lawsuits against CBS News/”60 Minutes” or ABC/George Stephanopolous – both were wholly justified)

It’s just Trump being Trump, blustering against his comedy critics without doing anything to follow up on the matter.

Thank goodness.

It’s still one of his most exasperating traits. It also pales in comparison to his predecessor. President Joe Biden didn’t threaten his critics.

He did far worse.

He sicced the FBI on parents who questioned the Left’s school policies. He also made social media platforms censor speech that challenged liberal dogma.

That’s far more dangerous than angry social media meltdowns.

It’s still wrong for President Trump to bluster like he does. They don’t call it a “bully pulpit” for nothing. His rants serve no one but himself.

Yet Carr just reshared his anti-Myers Truth Social post.

That’s unacceptable.

Carr’s initial Kimmel comments hurt the GOP. It gave the Left endless ammunition that Team Trump wanted to silence his critics. The Left pounced and seized, pretending to care about free speech in the process.

Now, Carr has struck again, digging another hole for conservatives to escape.

The very least an FCC chairman should do is avoid comments like this. Yes, the same should be true of Trump, a once-in-a-generation political talent with flaws as large as his strengths.

Trump has shown he can rise above his boorish Tweets. He delivers, for one thing. Just ask the remaining Israeli hostages now reunited with their loved ones.

Carr has no such superpower.

And, at this point, he deserves to be relieved of his FCC duties. It’s the smart political move. It prevents him from saying something even worse down the road.

And, most importantly, it’s the right thing to do.