RNC Revokes CBC Credentials Over 9/11 Editorial Memo

The Republican National Convention revoked press credentials for CBC/Radio-Canada for its September 9-10 midterm convention in Dallas, Texas. The decision followed the leak of an internal CBC memo that instructed staff not to refer to the September 11 attacks as terrorist attacks without direct attribution. The RNC stated that granting the broadcaster access would be an "insult" to the victims of the attacks.

David Bozell, President of the Media Research Center, condemned the guidelines as a surrender to terrorism and called for the CBC to be fully defunded. FBI Director Kash Patel intensified the pressure, warning that any Canadian agency failing to reject this "bastardization of history" would no longer have a friend in the FBI.

Although the CBC reversed the policy and stated it has never claimed the events of September 11 were not terrorism, the RNC proceeded with the revocation hours after the reversal. CBC officials described the development as disappointing and noted they are reviewing the decision.

The dispute occurs amid broader diplomatic friction between the United States and Canada, including a trade war involving tariffs and recent U.S. government reductions in visa durations for foreign journalists.