The Trump administration has accused Apple’s News app of bias, alleging it sidelines conservative media. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson warned Apple CEO Tim Cook that such curation could violate federal law by misleading users. A report cited by the FTC found no right-leaning outlets among top stories.

The Trump administration has fired a warning shot at Apple over its popular News app, accusing the iPhone maker of quietly sidelining conservative media outlets while pushing articles from left-leaning publications. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, a Trump appointee, sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook raising concerns that Apple News may be violating federal law by misleading users about how it curates content.Ferguson’s letter pointed to a report by the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog, which reviewed 620 top stories featured on Apple News during January. According to the report, not a single article came from a right-leaning outlet. Instead, publications like The Associated Press, NBC News, The New York Times, and The Washington Post dominated the feed. Conservative outlets such as Fox News, the New York Post, and the Daily Wire were nowhere to be found.“I abhor and condemn any attempt to censor content for ideological reasons,” Ferguson wrote, adding that such efforts “stifle the free exchange of ideas” and are “inconsistent with American values.”

FTC says Apple News curation could violate consumer protection laws

Ferguson was careful to note that the FTC cannot force Apple to promote any particular political viewpoint. However, he warned that if Apple’s content curation doesn’t match what its terms of service promise—or what users reasonably expect—the company could be in violation of the FTC Act, which prohibits deceptive business practices.FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, another Trump appointee, backed Ferguson’s stance, posting on X that Apple “has no right to suppress conservative viewpoints in violation of the FTC Act.”Trump himself had shared the Media Research Center report on Truth Social just a day before Ferguson sent his letter.

Apple’s careful balancing act with the Trump administration gets trickier

The warning comes at an awkward time for Apple. Tim Cook has worked hard to maintain a working relationship with the Trump White House, pledging over $600 billion in US investments over the next four years. The company also managed to dodge aggressive tariffs on imported smartphones.But the goodwill took a hit this week after Apple sponsored the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny. Trump called the performance “absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER” and “a slap in the face to our country,” in a Truth Social post.