US President Donald Trump has floated the idea of potentially revoking the broadcast licenses of American television networks that provide negative coverage of him.
The suggestion came a day after ABC indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, following what it called “offensive and insensitive” comments made by the comedian about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During a press conference on Thursday, Trump stated that TV networks “give me only bad publicity or press” and suggested that their licenses might be taken away. However, Trump noted that it will be up to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr to rule whether to keep the networks on air or not. The FCC head has been described by Trump as “doing a great job.” Just hours before ABC suspended ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, Carr warned that companies could find ways to take action on Kimmel or face additional work for the FCC. Trump welcomed ABC’s decision and suggested that NBC’s late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers should also be “canceled.” He claimed that the late-night shows “have not had a conservative on in years or something, somebody said, but when you go, back and take a look, all they do is hit Trump. They are licensed. They are not allowed to do that.”
Trump’s comments have sparked a mix of reactions from both supporters and critics. Supporters believe that the media has a bias against the president, while critics argue that such a move would set a dangerous precedent for government overreach into the media. The situation has also raised questions about the role of the FCC and its ability to enforce journalistic standards. In his show on Tuesday, Meyers accused Trump of “pursuing a crackdown on free speech,” while late-night comedian Stephen Colbert, whose show on CBS will not be prolonged after May 2026, claimed that “this is blatant censorship. With an autocrat, you can’t give an inch.”
The controversy has also brought attention to the broader issue of media bias and the impact of political figures on the journalism industry. As the discussion continues, the outcome of this situation could have far-reaching implications for both the media and political discourse in the United States.
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Jimmy Kimmel suspended over ‘offensive’ Charlie Kirk comments