Punishing the Press, Critics and Institutions

Broadcast License Threats

Trump Demanded ABC's Licenses Be Revoked as His FCC Reviewed Eight of Its Stations Years Early

Select a Section to Explore

Chapter 1 — Trump Made Broadcast Licenses a Threat Against Speech

Chapter 2 — An Employment Inquiry Became a Broader License Review

Chapter 3 — The Pressure Reached Editorial Decisions

Chapter 4 — The Court Case Is Open; the Threats Are Public

1 · Trump Made Broadcast Licenses a Threat Against Speech

1 · Trump Made Broadcast Licenses a Threat Against Speech — select a subtopic

1.1 — Carry His Speech or Lose the License

1.2 — A Firing Demand, Then Eight Early Renewals

1 · Trump Made Broadcast Licenses a Threat Against Speech

1.1 · Trump Made Broadcast Licenses a Threat Against Speech

Carry His Speech or Lose the License

President Trump called for ABC and NBC to lose their licenses because their broadcast channels did not carry his speech. Both networks streamed it. ABC's eight owned stations were already undergoing an early FCC license review, so the threat reached a broadcaster with applications pending before the government.

Address to the Nation on Election Reforms

Fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses.

President Donald J. Trump · July 16, 2026

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Sources

[1]President Donald J. Trump, Address to the Nation on Election Reforms (July 16, 2026), DCPD-202600469

[2]Reuters (republished by KSL), 'Trump threatens to revoke licenses of US networks for not carrying primetime speech' (KSL publication July 17, 2026)

[3]Federal Communications Commission, Order, DA 26-416, In the Matter of The Walt Disney Company, American Broadcasting Company, et al. (Media Bureau, Video Division, adopted and released Apr. 28, 2026)

[4]Federal Communications Commission, Public Notice, DA 26-541, FCC's Media Bureau Establishes Pleading Cycle and Ex Parte Procedures for the Early Renewal Applications of The Walt Disney Company's ABC Licenses, MB Docket No. 26-131 (released May 29, 2026)

[5]Federal Communications Commission, official biography of Chairman Brendan Carr (Internet Archive snapshot, Sept. 29, 2026)

[6]Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 1, Aug. 18, 2026)

[7]Defendants' Combined Motion to Dismiss, Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Relief, and Memorandum in Support Thereof, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. FCC, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 24, Sept. 3, 2026)

[8]Plaintiffs' Reply in Support of Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. FCC, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 43, Sept. 17, 2026)

[9]Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC), post on X (Mar. 14, 2026), Internet Archive snapshot

[10]Reuters (News Tribune), Trump says NBC's Welker to be reported to FCC over characterization of his endorsements (News Tribune publication Aug. 31, 2026)

1.2 · Trump Made Broadcast Licenses a Threat Against Speech

A Firing Demand, Then Eight Early Renewals

Trump publicly demanded that Disney and ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel. The next day, April 28, 2026, the FCC ordered all eight ABC-owned stations to apply for renewal within 30 days. Their licenses were not due until 2028 through 2031. The order did not mention Kimmel or Trump, and Carr denied outside pressure.

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Sources

[1]President Donald J. Trump, Address to the Nation on Election Reforms (July 16, 2026), DCPD-202600469

[6]Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 1, Aug. 18, 2026)

[11]Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. FCC, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 2-1, Aug. 18, 2026)

[12]Mandalit del Barco, NPR, report on the FCC's early license renewal order for ABC stations (Apr. 28, 2026)

[13]47 U.S.C. § 307 (licenses; terms; renewals)

[14]The Hollywood Reporter, 'FCC Chair Says ABC Investigation Is Not Related to Jimmy Kimmel' (Apr. 30, 2026)

2 · An Employment Inquiry Became a Broader License Review

2 · An Employment Inquiry Became a Broader License Review — select a subtopic

2.1 — The FCC's Defense Has Real Evidence

2.2 — No Discrimination Finding, but a Warning to Every Broadcaster

2 · An Employment Inquiry Became a Broader License Review

2.1 · An Employment Inquiry Became a Broader License Review

The FCC's Defense Has Real Evidence

The FCC's employment inquiry began thirteen months before the early-renewal order, and Bridge News received a similar order one day before ABC. The FCC says deficient documents justified ABC's review and promises to grant qualifying renewals. But the law bars renewal grants more than 30 days before expiration, so ABC argues that the threat of denial could hang over its editorial decisions for years.

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Sources

[1]President Donald J. Trump, Address to the Nation on Election Reforms (July 16, 2026), DCPD-202600469

[6]Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 1, Aug. 18, 2026)

[13]47 U.S.C. § 307 (licenses; terms; renewals)

[15]Letter from Brendan Carr, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission, to Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company, RE: Investigation into Disney/ABC's DEI Programs (Mar. 27, 2025)

[16]Letter from Brendan Carr, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission, to Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce (May 29, 2026), FCC document DOC-422341A2

[17]47 C.F.R. § 73.3539(c) (application for renewal of license)

[18]Federal Communications Commission, Order, DA 26-413, In the Matter of Bridge News, LLC (Media Bureau, Video Division, adopted and released Apr. 27, 2026)

[19]National Rifle Association of America v. Vullo, 602 U.S. 175 (2024) (slip opinion)

[20]United States v. Chemical Foundation, Inc., 272 U.S. 1 (1926) (Cornell Legal Information Institute)

[21]Nieves v. Bartlett, 587 U.S. 391 (2019) (slip opinion)

[22]Executive Order 14215, Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies, 90 Fed. Reg. 10447 (Feb. 24, 2025) (signed Feb. 18, 2025)

[23]Trump v. Slaughter, 609 U.S. 422 (June 29, 2026) (preliminary print)

2.2 · An Employment Inquiry Became a Broader License Review

No Discrimination Finding, but a Warning to Every Broadcaster

Carr said the FCC was reserving judgment on discrimination even as it demanded early renewals. ABC points to an FCC agreement accepting documents limited to regulated stations, with the right to demand more, and says the agency challenged that scope only after ordering the renewals. The order also opened a broader review of ABC's public interest duties. On the May filing deadline, the FCC cited ABC's proceeding in a warning to every broadcaster about penalties, shorter renewals, early reviews or hearings.

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Sources

[6]Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 1, Aug. 18, 2026)

[12]Mandalit del Barco, NPR, report on the FCC's early license renewal order for ABC stations (Apr. 28, 2026)

[24]FCC Media Bureau, FCC Reminds Broadcasters of Their Public Interest Obligations, DA 26-530 (May 28, 2026)

[25]Federal Communications Commission, news release, 'Gomez: FCC's Egregious Assault on the First Amendment Will Fail' (Apr. 28, 2026), FCC document DOC-421194A1

3 · The Pressure Reached Editorial Decisions

3 · The Pressure Reached Editorial Decisions — select a subtopic

3.1 — Pages Produced and Guests Passed Over

3.2 — Kimmel Moved a Senate Interview Online

3 · The Pressure Reached Editorial Decisions

3.1 · The Pressure Reached Editorial Decisions

Pages Produced and Guests Passed Over

ABC's September filing says it had produced over 18,600 document pages and 276 pages of written responses to the employment inquiry. ABC also says The View stopped hosting political candidates and withheld clips because of the combined pressure of the FCC inquiries and pending renewals.

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Sources

[6]Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 1, Aug. 18, 2026)

3.2 · The Pressure Reached Editorial Decisions

Kimmel Moved a Senate Interview Online

In September, Kimmel said his James Talarico interview would run on YouTube instead of ABC because of FCC threats and concern for local stations. The interview did appear online. The White House denied that Carr had threatened this interview, and Commissioner Gomez said she could not establish exactly what happened.

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Sources

[6]Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 1, Aug. 18, 2026)

[26]David Shepardson, Reuters (KSL), ABC's Jimmy Kimmel says interview with Senate candidate Talarico will not air on network (Sept. 10, 2026)

[27]CNN, Erin Burnett OutFront transcript, interview with FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez (Sept. 10, 2026)

[28]Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune, Jimmy Kimmel won't air interview with James Talarico after threat from FCC (Sept. 10, updated Sept. 11, 2026)

[29]FCC Media Bureau, Guidance on Political Equal Opportunities Requirement for Broadcast Television Stations, DA 26-68 (Jan. 21, 2026)

[30]Bantam Books, Inc. v. Sullivan, 372 U.S. 58 (1963) (Cornell Legal Information Institute)

4 · The Court Case Is Open; the Threats Are Public

4 · The Court Case Is Open; the Threats Are Public — select a subtopic

4.1 — What the Judge Has and Has Not Decided

4.2 — Public Power Used as Editorial Pressure

4 · The Court Case Is Open; the Threats Are Public

4.1 · The Court Case Is Open; the Threats Are Public

What the Judge Has and Has Not Decided

ABC, Disney and eight station companies sued on August 18, 2026, alleging retaliation for protected speech. The government argues that challenges to FCC orders belong in an appeals court. Judge Loren AliKhan heard arguments on October 6 without ruling and requested further briefing. The licenses continue, and the FCC has promised advance notice before sending a renewal to a hearing while the preliminary-injunction motion is pending.

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Sources

[6]Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 1, Aug. 18, 2026)

[31]Telecommunications Research and Action Center v. FCC, 750 F.2d 70 (D.C. Cir. 1984) (OpenJurist)

[32]Associated Press (republished by KSAT), 'ABC and Trump's FCC battle in federal court over issues of free speech and jurisdiction' (Oct. 6, 2026)

[33]Joint Status Report, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. FCC, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 15, Aug. 20, 2026)

[34]Docket, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C.), as mirrored by the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, University of Michigan Law School (entries through Oct. 6, 2026)

4.2 · The Court Case Is Open; the Threats Are Public

Public Power Used as Editorial Pressure

The law permits broadcast licensing and criticism of broadcasters, but forbids using state power to punish disfavored speech. Trump explicitly urged license revocation over coverage, and his chosen chairman's FCC put eight ABC stations into early review. ABC's retaliation claim awaits judgment. Trump's public license threats warrant impeachment scrutiny as an abuse of public trust.

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Sources

[1]President Donald J. Trump, Address to the Nation on Election Reforms (July 16, 2026), DCPD-202600469

[5]Federal Communications Commission, official biography of Chairman Brendan Carr (Internet Archive snapshot, Sept. 29, 2026)

[6]Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C. ECF No. 1, Aug. 18, 2026)

[13]47 U.S.C. § 307 (licenses; terms; renewals)

[19]National Rifle Association of America v. Vullo, 602 U.S. 175 (2024) (slip opinion)

[35]47 U.S.C. § 326 (censorship)

[36]Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, 395 U.S. 367 (1969) (Cornell Legal Information Institute)

[37]National Broadcasting Co. v. United States, 319 U.S. 190 (1943) (Cornell Legal Information Institute)

[38]Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist No. 65 (Avalon Project, Yale Law School)

[39]Articles of Impeachment Adopted by the House of Representatives' Committee on the Judiciary (1974), Article II (American Presidency Project, University of California, Santa Barbara)