Trump administration threatens US TV channels to change rules for interviewing candidates, says agency director

President Donald Trump visits a vehicle assembly plant on January 13, 2026 REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein A director of the agency that regulates radio and television in the United States accused President Donald Trump’s administration of pressuring major broadcasters by tightening rules on interviews with politicians in entertainment programs, such as talk shows shown at night or during the day. The criticism was made by Anna Gomez, a Democratic member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the federal body responsible for overseeing and regulating the communications sector in the country. ✅ Follow g1’s international news channel on WhatsApp Last week, the FCC — now led by a majority of Republican appointees — released new guidance stating that daytime and late-night talk shows should not be considered “bona fide” journalism. As a result, these programs would no longer have an automatic exemption from a rule known as “equal time” in this US midterm election year. See the videos that are trending on g1 This rule, created decades ago, obliges radio and TV stations to offer the same space to rival candidates when a politician appears on programming during the election period. Traditionally, television news and other journalistic programs do not need to follow this requirement. According to Gomez, the change in interpretation represents a threat to press freedom and could intimidate broadcasters, leading them to avoid interviews with candidates to avoid taking legal risks. “Do not be intimidated to the point of interrupting independent coverage of what is happening in this country,” said the commissioner, in a direct message to the television networks. The statement comes amid criticism from Trump allies of press coverage and discussions about the role of entertainment programs in shaping public opinion during election campaigns.

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