The Republican National Committee revoked CBC/Radio-Canada press credentials after controversy over an internal memo that advised reporters not to label the Sept. 11 attacks “terrorism” without attribution, and the broadcaster later reversed that guidance.

The RNC’s decision to bar CBC and Radio-Canada from its midterm convention in Dallas is rooted in a memo that discouraged calling the Sept. 11 attacks “terrorism” absent direct attribution. That guidance hit a raw nerve for Americans and Republicans who see 9/11 as an undisputed act of terrorism, and the RNC responded by pulling credentials for the public broadcaster.

The CBC later said it reversed the memo, but the credential revocation had already been sent in a heated letter from the RNC. For a major political event where access is limited and competition for press spots is intense, the committee signaled it will prioritize outlets that reflect basic facts about national security and past attacks.

From a Republican viewpoint, this is about accountability and clarity. When an outlet produces internal guidance that looks like hedging on whether an attack was terrorism, it undermines trust and gives fuel to critics who argue mainstream media sometimes soft-pedals cold facts in favor of cautious phrasing.

https://x.com/ChrisGNardi/status/2094528425868345477?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

U.S President Donald Trump’s Republican Party has revoked the CBC/Radio-Canada’s press access to its upcoming midterm convention, citing the public broadcaster’s now-reversed policy not to refer to 9/11 as “terrorism” without direct attribution, National Post has learned.

A CBC spokesperson confirmed Monday that the Republican National Convention (RNC) had revoked access for both CBC and Radio-Canada to its major party gathering on Sept. 9 and 10, ahead of key midterm elections.

The unusual press credential revocation came following a week of controversy about an internal memo from the broadcaster reminding reporters and editors of a “longstanding language guidance” not to refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as “terrorism” without attribution.

In an email to National Post, Chuck Thompson, the CBC’s head of public affairs, said the public broadcaster is reviewing the RNC’s decision. “It is a disappointing development; we hope it will be reconsidered,” he wrote.

The RNC’s move also appears to be the latest attempt by Trump’s administration and party to fire salvos at Canada since free trade talks between Ottawa and Washington fell apart late last week.

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Late Friday afternoon, following media reports about the broadcaster’s memo on the Sept. 11 attacks and ensuing criticism from both sides of the border, the CBC wrote in an editor’s blog that it had reversed the policy.

A few hours later, the RNC sent a heated letter to CBC/Radio-Canada revoking all the public broadcaster’s previously approved press credentials to the upcoming major political gathering in Dallas, TX. The gathering is an important press event as it will unite Republican heavyweights on the eve of key U.S. midterm elections.

Public broadcasters have a responsibility to be straightforward, not to produce guidance that muddies judgments about terrorism. When language looks like an attempt to neutralize or question a violent act we all remember, elected officials and party organizers will push back hard, and voters expect nothing less.

The timing also feeds into broader tensions between Washington and Ottawa that flared during recent trade talks. Political leaders and organizers have options: they can invite media partners who align with clear reporting norms, or open platforms to outlets that introduce ambiguity into straightforward historical events.

Pulling credentials is a blunt tool, but conventions are controlled environments where message, security, and access are tightly managed. The RNC made a calculation that allowing a broadcaster that issued such guidance could create distractions and undermine the event’s primary purpose of rallying supporters and communicating the party’s message.

At the core of the controversy is a simple expectation: newsrooms should label obvious acts of mass violence accurately. Republicans will argue that tolerating hesitant language from a major broadcaster sends the wrong signal to readers and viewers, and that credential access should reflect adherence to basic factual standards.

It’s not a stunt to insist on straight talk about national security or major historical events. For those organizing high-profile political gatherings, clarity on facts is a baseline requirement, and the RNC’s credential decision makes that point clearly and without apology.