US President Donald Trump has called for ABC and NBC to be stripped of their broadcasting licenses, accusing the networks of political bias. In a post on Truth Social, Trump blasted ABC and NBC as ‘two of the absolute worst and most biased networks,’ suggesting they should lose their licenses for their unfair coverage of Republicans and conservatives. He also emphasized that they should pay substantial fees for the privilege of using the airwaves, which he deems the most valuable in the country.
Trump has long accused major media outlets of spreading lies about him and working to undermine his presidency on behalf of the Democrats. In June, ABC dismissed veteran correspondent Terry Moran after he referred to senior Trump aide Stephen Miller as a ‘world-class hater.’ This reflects a broader pattern of tension between Trump and mainstream media, with the networks facing a series of allegations and legal actions.
Earlier this year, ABC agreed to pay $15 million to Trump’s presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit over inaccurate comments about his sexual assault and defamation trial involving columnist E. Jean Carroll. Last month, Paramount, the parent company of CBS News, agreed to pay $16 million as part of another settlement. Trump alleged the company deceptively edited a 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who at the time was running against him in the presidential election.
In July, Trump filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal’s parent company, Dow Jones, and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, over a report claiming he had sent a birthday letter to financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the early 2000s. These legal battles underscore a deepening rift between Trump and the media, with each side accusing the other of spreading misinformation or engaging in political bias. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions in American media and politics, with Trump’s demands for media accountability reflecting his broader strategy to counter perceived opposition.