President Donald Trump has escalated his war with the media, saying that US broadcast networks could lose their licenses if they are “too critical” of
him. His remarks mark one of the strongest threats yet to press freedom during his administration and come just as ABC suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely following backlash over his comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death, said a report by Bloomberg. What Trump Said Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters: “When you have a network and you have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump, I would think maybe their license should be taken away.” The comments came just days after Trump filed a $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times, accusing it of bias, and one year after he forced ABC to settle a $15 million defamation suit over remarks made by George Stephanopoulos. Jimmy Kimmel Off the Air
- ABC confirmed this week that Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been suspended indefinitely.
- The decision followed pressure from Nexstar Media Group, which owns dozens of ABC affiliates, after Kimmel suggested Republicans were exploiting Kirk’s death.
“Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else, and he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk.”
The White House has also signaled support for Federal Communications Commission (FCC) scrutiny of broadcasters that carry content “against the public interest.”
FCC’s Role and Pushback
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told Fox News that local broadcasters could face scrutiny if their programming is deemed out of line with public interest obligations. He warned:
“We’re going to continue to hold these broadcasters accountable to the public interest. And if broadcasters don’t like it, they can turn in their license.”
However, media lawyers point out that the FCC licenses local stations, not national networks, and that pulling licenses based on political criticism would almost certainly face legal challenges.
Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, blasted the remarks, accusing Carr of weaponizing the FCC. Even some Republicans, like Senator Rand Paul, cautioned against government interference in free speech.
Free Speech at Stake?
Critics say Trump’s comments represent a direct assault on the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of the press.
- The New York Times, responding to Trump’s lawsuit, said:
“This lawsuit has no merit. It is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.” - Civil rights groups have warned that targeting broadcasters over political content is unconstitutional censorship.
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, standing beside Trump at a press conference, reminded reporters:
“This country’s had free speech for a very, very long time. It is part of who we are, and it is what we fought for together.”
Bigger Picture
- Trump’s media fights come as conservative commentators rally around Kirk’s death, blaming “leftist rhetoric” for fueling violence.
- His allies, including Vice President JD Vance, have vowed to investigate left-leaning groups.
- Trump’s critics see this as part of a broader campaign against dissenting voices, with lawsuits, regulatory threats, and public shaming being used to chill opposition.
The latest clash between Trump and the media puts the spotlight squarely on freedom of the press in the US. While his threats may face steep legal hurdles, they send a strong political message: critical coverage of the president could come at a cost.
For now, Trump’s base applauds his hardline stance, but media watchdogs warn that the erosion of press freedoms could have long-lasting consequences for American democracy.
