US President Donald Trump has accused ABC and NBC of spreading ‘fake news’ and called the networks a ‘virtual arm of the Democratic Party,’ demanding they be ‘made smaller.’ This follows recent tensions over media coverage and press access under his administration, with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) facing pressure to restrict broadcasting licenses for networks accused of political bias.
Trump’s post on his Truth Social platform came in response to a Newsmax story claiming that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is moving to grant television networks greater reach through a potential merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna Inc. The president has escalated his attacks on mainstream media in recent weeks, coinciding with efforts by his administration to curtail press access and exert control over coverage.
The criticism has extended beyond national broadcasters, following late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s joke 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. This has intensified ongoing disputes over media bias and regulation.
Trump recently renewed his call for the FCC to revoke broadcast licenses held by ABC, escalating a long-standing conflict. The latest clash followed an exchange where Trump accused ABC News of pushing politically motivated narratives after a reporter pressed him on his handling of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez stated that revoking 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 Chairman Brendan Carr emphasized his commitment to strengthening 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.