Trump Threatens FCC License Revocations After Jimmy Kimmel Suspension

‎President Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of U.S. broadcast networks, suggesting that their FCC licenses should be revoked if they continue airing what he views as overwhelmingly negative coverage of him.

‎

Donald Trump calls for broadcast networks’ FCC licenses to be revoked after Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks spark controversy and ABC suspends the show.

‎Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

‎

‎Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after returning from a U.K. trip, Trump cited statistics claiming that “97 percent” of news coverage about him is negative. “I have read someplace that the networks were 97 percent against me, I get 97 percent negative, and yet I won and easily,” he said, according to The New York Times. He added, “I would think maybe their license should be taken away.”

‎

‎The president also described television networks as “an arm of the Democrat party” and accused them of working against him. His comments follow mounting controversy around ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and remarks made by the comedian regarding the alleged shooter in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

‎

‎On his Monday night broadcast, Kimmel mocked MAGA Republicans for what he described as efforts to distance their political identity from alleged shooter Tyler Robinson. “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said.

‎

‎The comments drew swift attention from Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr, who condemned the monologue and warned that ABC affiliates risked losing their broadcast licenses. “[This] appears to be an action by Jimmy Kimmel to play into the narrative that this was somehow a MAGA or Republican-motivated person,” Carr said on a podcast. He added that broadcasters are obligated to act in the public interest and warned, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”

‎

‎Disney responded quickly by suspending Jimmy Kimmel Live! “indefinitely.” The decision was made by CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The move has triggered its own wave of backlash and debate about free expression.

‎

‎The FCC oversees U.S. public airwaves, granting broadcast licenses to local TV stations. Carr has also raised the possibility of investigating other programs such as The View, also aired by ABC. However, Democratic FCC commissioner Anna Gomez emphasized that the agency cannot take action against networks simply because of their content.

‎

‎“I see this as a part of this administration’s campaign of censorship and control, and what it’s doing is it’s weaponizing its licensing authority in order to bring broadcasters to heel and to really think twice about what they say about this administration,” Gomez said at Axios’ Media Trends summit. “It’s not because the content of these broadcasts is inciting violence or breaking the law. All it’s doing is speaking about this administration in a way that it does not like, which is contrary to the First Amendment and the Communications Act.”