US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Republican Brendan Carr, a critic of big tech backed by Elon Musk, to head the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), labeling him a “warrior for free speech” in an official statement.
According to Mr. Trump, Mr. Carr has “fought against the regulatory lawfare that has stifled Americans’ freedoms” and will “put an end to the regulatory onslaught that has been debilitating America’s job creators and innovators, ensuring the FCC serves rural America.”
Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Carr stated on Mr. Musk’s social media platform X that he was “humbled and honored” to assume the position of FCC chairman.
In another post yesterday, he remarked, “We must dismantle the censorship cartel and restore free speech rights for everyday Americans.”
Brendan Carr has developed a partnership with billionaire Elon Musk
Before this appointment, Mr. Carr was already serving as the senior Republican on the FCC, an independent body responsible for regulating licenses for television and radio, internet pricing, and other communication matters in the United States.
He has long been speculated to be a top candidate for the FCC chair position and has cultivated a partnership with billionaire Elon Musk, Mr. Trump’s wealthiest supporter, whose Starlink satellite internet service could greatly benefit from access to federal funds.
As reported by The New York Times, Starlink was awarded an $885 million (€839 million) grant from the FCC in late 2020, which was later rescinded by the Democrat-led commission due to the service’s inability to prove it would connect enough unserved rural households.
Mr. Carr “vociferously” opposed this decision, according to the newspaper.
He articulated in a Wall Street Journal op-ed last month, “In my view, it amounted to nothing more than regulatory lawfare against one of the left’s primary targets: Mr. Musk.”
Mr. Carr has also publicly supported the incoming Trump administration’s pledges to reduce regulations and hold television networks accountable for perceived political bias.
Donald Trump has consistently advocated for revoking the licenses of major broadcasters like ABC, NBC, and CBS
Mr. Trump has consistently pushed for the revocation of licenses from major broadcasters, including ABC, NBC, and CBS.
During the 2024 campaign, he specifically targeted CBS, claiming its license should be revoked after the network’s flagship news program “60 Minutes” aired an interview with his Democratic challenger, Kamala Harris, while Mr. Trump declined to participate in a similar interview.
Additionally, Mr. Carr authored a chapter on the FCC in the contentious Project 2025 document, which outlined a vision for a potential second Trump administration, advocating for the regulation of major tech firms including Meta, Google, and Apple.
He suggested that the FCC should prioritize four key objectives: regulating big tech, enhancing national security, “unleashing” economic growth, and ensuring accountability within the FCC in the Heritage Foundation’s document.
Mr. Carr joined the FCC in 2012, and in 2017, during his first term, Mr. Trump appointed him as one of the agency’s commissioners.
Prior to joining the FCC, Mr. Carr worked as a lawyer specializing in regulatory issues.
