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President Donald Trump has proposed that US broadcasting networks critical of his administration should have their broadcast licenses revoked.
The statements arose as he commended ABC for suspending late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, whose monologue regarding the passing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk incited backlash.
Addressing reporters aboard Air Force One during his return from a state visit to the UK, Trump asserted that approximately 97% of media coverage concerning him is unfavorable. He remarked that network owners presently possess broadcast licenses and queried whether those licenses ought to be “revoked.”
The catalyst for these remarks was Kimmel’s latest show monologue, during which he accused Trump supporters of politicizing Kirk’s death and criticized the wider political response. ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! “indefinitely” following pressure from both the public and government regulators.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly denounced Kimmel’s comments as “offensive and insensitive,” suggesting potential regulatory repercussions. Local station group Nexstar declared it would cease airing the show, citing similar worries.
Legal analysts and critics highlight that revoking licenses due to editorial content would likely infringe upon the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, cautioned that threatening to rescind licenses in reaction to criticism is an assault on free speech. She remarked that the FCC does not have the authority to sanction broadcasters simply for content it finds objectionable.
Under current legislation, the FCC licenses individual local stations rather than national networks such as ABC, CNN, NBC, or Fox, complicating the legal foundation for revoking a network license as Trump suggested.
Former President Barack Obama and various advocates for media and free speech have accused the Trump administration of advocating censorship and utilizing regulatory agencies to penalize dissenters. Some perceive this incident as part of a larger pattern of political pressure on the Fourth Estate.
For broadcasters, this moment highlights concerns regarding editorial autonomy, regulatory overreach, and the precariousness of media institutions within a polarized political environment.
Paul Jones
Harvard alumnus and ex-New York Times journalist. Editor of Business Matters for more than 15 years, the UK’s largest business magazine. Additionally, I lead Capital Business Media’s automotive division, catering to clients like Red Bull Racing, Honda, Aston Martin, and Infiniti.
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