Washington, DC (AP) –United States President Donald Trump escalates his long-running feud with mainstream media on Thursday, suggesting that television networks providing “negative” coverage of him “maybe” deserve to lose their Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses. The remarks come amid the indefinite suspension of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show, a move Trump hails as a victory for accountability in broadcasting.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during his return from a state visit to the United Kingdom, Trump targets late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and CBS’s Stephen Colbert, whom he accuses of relentless bias. “I have read someplace that the networks were 97% against me,” Trump states. “They’re getting a license. I would think maybe their license should be taken away.” He defers ultimate authority to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee whom he praises as a “great patriot” committed to curbing “distorted” content.
Key Highlights
– Trump’s Direct Quote: “When you have a network and you have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump… that’s something that should be talked about for licensing, too.”
– FCC Chairman’s Stance: Carr hints at broader scrutiny, stating the Kimmel suspension “may not be the last shoe to drop” and warning of potential investigations into shows like ABC’s “The View.”
– Kimmel’s Suspended Monologue: In the unaired segment, Kimmel mocked the tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s death, saying, “This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish,” linking it to MAGA’s political exploitation.
– Hollywood Backlash: Calls for Disney boycotts surge, with hashtags like #FreeKimmel trending; prominent figures including Barack Obama label it a “dangerous” assault on free speech.
– Viewership Impact: “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” sees a 43% ratings drop to 1.1 million viewers in August 2025, per Nielsen data, which Trump cites as the “real reason” for the suspension.
The controversy ignites after ABC, a subsidiary of Disney, suspends Kimmel’s program indefinitely on Wednesday. The decision follows Kimmel’s on-air comments linking the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk – a prominent Trump ally shot dead last week – to the president’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Kimmel suggests MAGA supporters seek to “score political points” from the tragedy, prompting swift backlash from broadcasters and regulators.
Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest U.S. TV station owners and an ABC affiliate, announces it will not air the show “for the foreseeable future,” citing the remarks as “offensive and insensitive.” FCC Chair Carr hints at license risks for non-compliant stations earlier in the day, pressuring local affiliates rather than national networks, which do not directly hold FCC licenses. Trump dismisses free speech concerns, insisting Kimmel’s ouster stems from “bad ratings” and “lack of talent,” not government interference.
Critics decry the episode as a chilling assault on press freedoms. The Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild issue joint statements condemning the suspension as a “violation of constitutional free speech rights.” Actor Ben Stiller calls it “isn’t right,” while “Hacks” star Jean Smart expresses horror at the “cancellation.” Former President Barack Obama labels it a “dangerous” escalation by the Trump administration. Late-night peers respond in kind: NBC’s Jimmy Fallon addresses the fallout in his opening monologue, joking that any past criticism of Trump must be “just A.I.,” and insists he will not be censored. CBS’s Stephen Colbert dedicates an entire episode to the issue, while Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart delivers a satirical “refresher” on First Amendment principles, quipping that the administration’s tactics resemble a “smoke screen to obscure an unprecedented consolidation of power.”
Democrats and First Amendment advocates warn of broader implications. “This isn’t about ratings; it’s about intimidation,” says a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which vows legal challenges if license revocations proceed. Calls for boycotts against Disney and other conglomerates gain traction online, with hashtags like #FreeKimmel trending globally. Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest ABC affiliate owner, airs a special remembrance program for Kirk in Kimmel’s time slot on Friday.
Trump’s comments revive echoes of his first term, when he frequently branded media “enemies of the people” and threatened FCC action against outlets like CNN and MSNBC. Legal experts note the FCC’s historical independence, though Carr’s alignment with Trump raises fears of politicized enforcement. The agency clarifies on its website that it licenses individual stations, not networks, but analysts say indirect pressure on affiliates could still silence national programming.
As the row unfolds, other hosts tread cautiously. Fallon jokes that Trump looks “incredibly handsome” in a voiceover gag during coverage of the UK trip, while Stewart’s irony underscores the absurdity. The incident underscores deepening media divides in Trump’s second term, where regulatory threats blend with market forces to reshape late-night satire.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on potential FCC investigations. Kimmel has yet to issue a public statement since the suspension.
