Trump Threatens TV Licenses Over Negative News Coverage/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump suggested that networks airing mostly negative coverage of him could lose their FCC licenses. FCC Chair Brendan Carr escalated pressure on ABC by supporting Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension after controversial remarks. The situation has ignited a debate over media freedom and government overreach.
Trump Threatens TV Licenses Over Negative News Coverage – Quick Looks
- Trump suggested networks could lose licenses for anti-Trump programming.
- FCC Chair Brendan Carr supported ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.
- Carr called Kimmel’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death “sick.”
- House Democrats accused Carr of violating the First Amendment.
- FCC is investigating ABC, CBS, NBC for political bias and DEI policies.
- Carr questions if shows like “The View” are exempt from equal time rules.
- Paramount-Skydance merger brought further scrutiny to CBS and Colbert’s cancellation.
- Trump and Carr allege media bias and misinformation from late-night hosts.
- Carr has previously attacked NBC’s “SNL” for violating election rules.
- Democrats are demanding Carr’s resignation amid media freedom concerns.
Deep Look: Trump and FCC Chief Threaten Broadcasters Over Critical Coverage
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has once again clashed with major U.S. media outlets, this time raising the stakes by suggesting that networks airing predominantly negative coverage of his administration should have their broadcast licenses revoked. His comments, combined with actions by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr, have triggered a wave of criticism and accusations of authoritarian overreach.
In an interview earlier this week, Trump said:
“When you have a network and you have evening shows and all they do is hit Trump, that’s all they do… They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that. They’re an arm of the Democrat Party.”
These remarks coincided with the suspension of ABC’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, whose recent comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were denounced as “truly sick” by Carr.
Carr, a Trump-appointed FCC chair, has increasingly aligned the commission with Trump’s broader media strategy—launching investigations into alleged bias at ABC, CBS, and NBC. His actions are being interpreted by critics as politically motivated attempts to muzzle dissenting voices in the media.
The Jimmy Kimmel Controversy
Kimmel was pulled off the air indefinitely after making remarks suggesting that right-wing figures were capitalizing on Kirk’s tragic death. Kirk, a well-known conservative podcaster, was shot while attending a college event in Utah. Carr accused Kimmel of misleading the public by implying that the assailant was aligned with Trump’s movement.
Carr said on Fox News:
“Broadcasters with FCC licenses have a unique obligation to operate in the public interest… We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
He warned Disney and ABC that failing to act on Kimmel could lead to further FCC scrutiny.
FCC Power and Media Scrutiny Intensify
The FCC under Carr has already opened multiple investigations into broadcast networks, including probing ABC and Disney for “invidious DEI discrimination,” and CBS for perceived political bias. NBC is also under investigation.
Carr’s recent actions are being tied to “Project 2025”, a far-right Heritage Foundation roadmap that outlines an aggressive overhaul of the federal government. Carr wrote the FCC section of the project, aligning closely with Trump’s ideology—even though Trump has publicly distanced himself from the document.
In July, Carr approved the $8 billion Paramount-Skydance merger, calling it a chance to “restore balance” to CBS. That deal came shortly after CBS agreed to a $16 million settlement with Trump, following a legal dispute involving the network’s “60 Minutes” program. Days later, CBS abruptly canceled Stephen Colbert’s Late Show, citing financial issues—though critics say the decision was political retaliation.
As part of the merger agreement, CBS agreed to hire a political bias ombudsman. That position went to Kenneth Weinstein, a former conservative think tank leader and Trump donor.
House Democrats Push Back
The escalating crackdown has drawn strong condemnation from congressional Democrats, who say the administration is undermining the First Amendment.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders called for Carr’s resignation, accusing him of “bullying ABC into suspending Jimmy Kimmel” and labeling the campaign a “war on free speech.”
“The View” and Equal Time Rule Under Fire
Carr has now turned his attention to ABC’s “The View”, questioning whether the daytime talk show should qualify as a “bona fide news program” — a classification that exempts it from the FCC’s Equal Time Rule, which requires broadcasters to provide equal airtime to political candidates.
“Potentially, I would assume, you could make the argument that ‘The View’ is a bona fide news show, but I’m not so sure about that,” Carr said on a podcast.
The Equal Time Rule is rarely enforced for news commentary or entertainment programming, but Carr has hinted at reviving its use as a political tool.
He made similar criticisms of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” last year after it featured Kamala Harris just days before the election. The Trump campaign successfully demanded equal time.
Free Speech or Political Control?
Media analysts and civil liberties advocates argue that Trump’s comments and Carr’s actions represent a dangerous trend toward government interference in press freedom.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and multiple press organizations have raised alarms about a chilling effect on editorial independence, especially if networks begin self-censoring to avoid FCC scrutiny.
Yet Trump and Carr continue to frame their approach as restoring “balance” in a media landscape they claim is dominated by liberal bias.
As Carr puts it:
“The FCC walked away from enforcing the public interest. I don’t think we’re better off as a country for it.”
Whether the courts or Congress intervene remains to be seen, but the standoff signals a contentious road ahead for broadcast journalism under Trump’s second term.
