US President Donald Trump has accused national broadcasters ABC and NBC of spreading ‘fake news’ and claimed they should be ‘made smaller,’ branding them as a ‘virtual arm of the Democrat Party.’ His recent post on his Truth Social platform highlights his growing frustration with mainstream media, which he argues distorts coverage to benefit his political adversaries. The remarks came in response to a Newsmax report suggesting that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is considering expanding network reach through a merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna Inc.
Trump’s attacks on the media have intensified in recent weeks, even as his administration seeks to restrict press access and exert greater control over media coverage. The criticism has broadened beyond national broadcasters, with Trump also targeting late-night comedians and other media figures. Following a joke by late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to review and potentially revoke the broadcast licenses of ABC-owned local stations and their affiliates.
Trump last week renewed his calls for the FCC to revoke broadcast licenses held by ABC, escalating a dispute that has simmered since his first term. The latest clash followed a question from an ABC News reporter pressing him on his handling of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, an exchange that prompted Trump to accuse the network of pushing politically motivated narratives. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez stated that revoking broadcast licenses over a reporter’s question would not hold up legally, noting that networks do not hold licenses themselves and none of their station licenses are up for renewal soon.
FCC head Brendan Carr reiterated his call to strengthen public-interest standards for broadcasters, stating the commission remains ‘open-minded.’ The FCC, an independent agency, grants eight-year licenses to individual stations, not national networks, highlighting the legal complexities involved in any potential actions against the networks. This latest controversy underscores the deepening divide between Trump’s administration and the mainstream media, with the political implications of such accusations continuing to shape public discourse and media coverage.