US President Donald Trump has accused ABC and NBC of spreading ‘fake news’ and said the networks should be ‘made smaller’ as part of his ongoing campaign against mainstream media, which he claims is biased toward his political opponents. This latest criticism reflects a broader pattern of attacks on the news media, which Trump has repeatedly accused of being ‘biased’ and ‘unfair.’ The comments were posted on his Truth Social platform and followed a recent incident in which Trump had reportedly clashed with an ABC News reporter over his handling of files related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump’s post was in response to a Newsmax story claiming that Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr is moving to give television networks greater reach and advance a merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna Inc. This has intensified Trump’s long-running attacks on the news media, even as his administration moves to restrict press access and tighten control over coverage. The president has recently expanded his criticism beyond national broadcasters, including threats to revoke broadcast licenses held by ABC following a question from an ABC News reporter about the Epstein files.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez recently 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 that the commission remained ‘open-minded’ on the issue. The FCC, an independent agency, grants eight-year licenses to individual stations, not national networks, emphasizing the complexity of the legal and regulatory landscape surrounding media outlets.
Trump’s criticism of the media has often been seen as a strategic move to consolidate his political base rather than a genuine critique of journalistic integrity. The comments on ABC and NBC have added to the tension between the Trump administration and the news media, highlighting the ongoing disputes over media bias, press freedom, and the role of national broadcasters in political discourse.