Trump floats revoking broadcast licenses for networks 'against' him after Kimmel suspension
President says FCC chair Brendan Carr would decide whether to act as ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel Live following a host's monologue about a MAGA-linked killer; Carr cites public-interest obligation.
President Donald Trump on Thursday proposed revoking broadcast licenses for networks seen as largely hostile to him, a suggestion tied to ABC’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live after a monologue about Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer and his links to Trump’s MAGA movement.
Trump told reporters that networks were “97% against me again, 97% negative,” and argued that their licenses should be at stake if the hostility continued. He said the final decision would be up to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, whom he praised as a patriot and “tough guy.” The president’s comments come as Carr signaled a possible FCC action against ABC and Disney in the wake of Kimmel’s remarks.
Just hours before ABC announced the indefinite suspension of Kimmel on Wednesday, Carr had warned that there was a “strong case” for taking action against ABC and its parent company, Disney, describing Kimmel’s comments as “truly sick.” On Monday, Kimmel had opened his show by saying that the MAGA movement was attempting to reframe the murder of a public figure in political terms. ABC said Wednesday that Kimmel would be pulled off the air “indefinitely.” Carr insisted that networks with broadcast licenses have a special obligation to serve the public interest, and he argued that Kimmel’s remarks appeared to mislead the American public.
Trump celebrated the suspension in a Truth Social post, labeling Kimmel’s program “ratings challenged” and also targeting late-night host Stephen Colbert after CBS announced plans to cancel Colbert’s show in July. The president also criticized NBC in similar posts, calling out Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers as examples of “Fake News NBC” with poor ratings and urging action against them as well. In the past, Trump has repeatedly blasted ABC as “FAKE NEWS” and has pursued legal action against several networks and newspapers.
The president has positioned the issue within a broader political conflict over media coverage and accountability. Carr argues that any license action would follow regulatory standards focused on public interest and broadcast integrity, while Trump frames the matter as a national-sovereignty test of media allegiance. Carr has emphasized that his views on Kimmel’s commentary were not a reflection of political motivation, though the comments have become deeply entwined with Trump’s ongoing confrontation with major outlets.
As this evolves, no formal action has been announced, and officials cautioned that any potential license revocation would involve a lengthy regulatory process with multiple stakeholders weighing factors beyond monologues or social-media posts. The episode underscores the mounting tension between a president who frequently labels unfavorable coverage as “fake news” and a media landscape that sees such threats as encroaching on press freedom and the regulatory framework that governs broadcast licenses.
The episode also highlights the interplay of policy, opinion, and legality in the modern media environment, where public-interest obligations are cited as a bulwark against misinformation while political figures push for corrective or punitive measures against outlets that disagree with them. Critics warn that any move to revoke licenses could set a controversial precedent that may chill legitimate journalistic critique and coverage. Supporters, however, argue that broadcasters occupy a unique space that requires heightened accountability when content is deemed to mislead or incite.
