President Trump recently made headlines by threatening to revoke the broadcast licenses of major networks that he feels consistently portray him and his allies negatively.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump exclaimed, “If Network NEWSCASTS and their Late Night Shows are nearly 100% Negative towards me, my MAGA supporters, and the Republican Party, shouldn’t their invaluable Broadcast Licenses be taken away? I say, YES!” This message appeared early on a Wednesday.
Notably, Trump has often clashed with prominent late-night presenters and journalists from major media outlets. He accuses them of showing bias against him and hasn’t shied away from making threats of repercussions.
Why This Is Significant
This year, Trump has initiated legal actions against various media outlets. He recently filed a staggering $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC for how it handled his speech in a 2021 documentary on Panorama. Earlier this month, he also refiled a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and three of its journalists.
Furthermore, Civicus, an organization that monitors civic freedoms globally, recently downgraded the United States’ civic freedom rating from “narrowed” to “obstructed.” This was partly due to growing political pressures on the media landscape. Trump’s comments have amplified concerns regarding press freedom in the country.
Key Takeaways
Previously, Trump had suggested that TV networks should have their licenses “revoked” after ABC suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over his remarks regarding a suspect in the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel remarked that supporters of Trump were trying to portray the accused as anything but part of their group.
In September, aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed, “I read somewhere that networks are 97% against me. Despite my success in all seven swing states, they only give me negative coverage.” He added, “Since they have a license, I believe it’s only fair that their license should maybe be reconsidered. That’s up to Brendan Carr to decide.”
Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, responded: “We will continue to ensure that these broadcasters are accountable to the public interest. And if they’re unhappy with that idea, they can return their license to us.”
In a further post from Wednesday, Trump criticized Stephen Colbert, calling him a “pathetic trainwreck” lacking the necessary talent for success in show business.
He claimed, “After getting dropped by CBS, he has only worsened—his ratings are non-existent. It’s clear he’s running on empty. CBS should do the humanitarian thing and ‘put him to sleep’ now!”
Public Reactions
Trump’s sentiments on Truth Social: “Which late-night host is the worst? CBS, ABC, or NBC? All three share these common traits: high salaries, no talent, and really low ratings!”
Previously, he stated: “The Failing New York Times, with its lies and deliberate distortions, poses a serious threat to our national security. Their radical left behavior—constantly pushing fake articles—must be addressed. THEY ARE AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!”
Next Steps
It’s important to note that the FCC cannot directly cancel broadcasting licenses for major networks like ABC, NBC, or CBS. However, they retain the authority to deny renewals or revoke licenses for local stations that are affiliated with these major broadcasters.
