In a bold and unprecedented escalation of his long-standing battle with the mainstream media, President Donald Trump declared on Thursday that television networks airing “negative” coverage of him could face the revocation of their broadcast licenses by federal regulators. The remarks, delivered aboard Air Force One, came amid fallout from ABC’s indefinite suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s show, a move critics say was prompted by White House pressure and threats from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
“When you have a network and you have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump,” the president told reporters, his voice laced with frustration. “They’re giving me all this bad press, and they’re getting a license. I think maybe their license should be taken away.” Trump specifically referenced what he called “97% negative” coverage from networks during his 2024 campaign, claiming they operate as “an arm of the Democrat Party.”
The comments mark Trump’s most direct threat yet to wield the FCC’s licensing authority—a tool that governs local TV stations using public airwaves—against national broadcasters. While the FCC does not directly license networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, or Fox, it oversees the affiliates that carry their programming. Major station groups such as Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, which own hundreds of local outlets, have already shown willingness to preempt controversial shows, amplifying the potential chilling effect on content.
The Kimmel Catalyst
The immediate trigger for Trump’s outburst was the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, announced by ABC on Wednesday. Kimmel, a vocal critic of Trump, drew ire for a monologue earlier this week linking the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to the MAGA movement and Trump’s rhetoric. Kirk, a prominent Turning Point USA founder, was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at a Utah university event. The suspect, whose motives remain under investigation, has been described by authorities as a “disturbed individual” with no confirmed ties to political extremism.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee and staunch ally, amplified the controversy during a Wednesday appearance on the Benny Johnson Podcast. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr warned, urging ABC’s parent company, Disney, to “take action” on Kimmel or face “additional work for the FCC ahead.” He labeled Kimmel’s remarks “truly sick” and argued they violated broadcasters’ obligations to serve the “public interest.”
Nexstar, the nation’s largest TV station owner with over 200 ABC affiliates, quickly responded by announcing it would preempt Kimmel “for the foreseeable future,” citing the comments as “offensive and insensitive.” Sinclair followed suit, refusing to air the show on its stations. Under pressure from these affiliates—which control vast swaths of local airtime—ABC had little choice but to pull the program indefinitely.
Trump praised Carr as “outstanding” and “a patriot,” deferring to him on any licensing decisions while insisting Kimmel’s ouster stemmed from plummeting ratings rather than censorship. “Anybody could replace him. He had no talent,” the president quipped, drawing a comparison to CBS’s Stephen Colbert, whose show he claimed was also recently axed—though no such confirmation exists.
Outrage from Democrats, Defenders in GOP Ranks
The episode has ignited a firestorm of condemnation from Democrats and free speech advocates, who warn it represents a dangerous slide toward authoritarianism. Former President Barack Obama issued a stark statement, accusing the Trump administration of elevating “cancel culture to a new and dangerous level” by “routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) echoed the sentiment on social media: “First Colbert, now Kimmel… it sure looks like giant media companies are enabling his authoritarianism.” The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) decried the moves as an assault on the First Amendment, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a libertarian-leaning voice, urged caution against government meddling in media content.
On X (formerly Twitter), reactions ranged from alarm to dismissal. Conservative commentator John Stossel posted a video decrying the idea: “Trump wants TV stations’ licenses revoked for criticizing him. This is just wrong. Government has no business punishing speech.” Users like @ResisterChic called it “FASCIST and in violation of the 1st amendment,” while others, including @HammerTime_11, labeled it a “power grab.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson pushed back, insisting the Kimmel suspension was a “private company” decision unrelated to free speech. “It’s incomparable to the Biden administration’s censorship regime,” she said, referencing past social media pressures.
Even within the GOP, fissures emerged. Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez blasted the approach as an “inexcusable act of political violence” exploited for “broader censorship or control.”
Broader Implications for Media and Democracy
Trump’s history of media antagonism is well-documented: During his first term and 2024 campaign, he repeatedly floated FCC action against outlets like CNN and The New York Times, once suing the latter for $15 billion over coverage he deemed defamatory (the case was dismissed). This week’s threats extend that pattern, potentially targeting not just news but entertainment programming like late-night comedy.
Legal experts note that while the FCC can review licenses for “public interest” compliance, the Communications Act and First Amendment bar outright censorship. Revocations are rare—last occurring in the 1970s—and require lengthy hearings. Still, the mere threat could force self-censorship, as seen with Kimmel’s swift suspension.
Calls for boycotts against Disney and other conglomerates are gaining traction online, with hashtags like #FreeSpeech and #BoycottABC trending. Colbert, in a Thursday monologue, mocked the situation: “Blatant censorship? Nah, just low ratings—says the guy who watches Fox at 3 a.m.”
As the dust settles, the incident underscores deepening divides over press freedom in Trump’s second term. With Carr at the FCC helm and allies in Congress pushing media reforms, broadcasters may soon face a stark choice: toe the line or risk losing access to America’s airwaves. For now, Kimmel’s fate—and the resilience of satirical speech—hangs in the balance.