Trump proposes withdrawing broadcasting licenses if they present him with unfavorable media coverage
In a series of recent statements, U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a controversial measure that could potentially affect TV broadcasters' licenses. Trump has suggested that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should consider revoking the licenses of broadcasters who provide negative coverage and have poor ratings.
This proposal comes after ABC pulled "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" off the air indefinitely, a move Trump attributed to Kimmel's low ratings during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump also suggested that Stephen Colbert's late-night show should be taken off air due to its perceived negativity towards him.
Brendan Carr, chairman of the FCC and a Trump ally, has been applying pressure on TV broadcasters to remove content he deems objectionable or face potential fines or license revocations. Carr has even urged local stations to stop airing shows like "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" due to critical comments about Trump, effectively supporting possible license suspensions of broadcasters perceived as negative towards the President.
However, it's important to note that the FCC's public interest standard requires airing programming that is responsive to the needs and problems of its local community of license and permits free expression of views. Trump's remarks have sparked concerns about the potential suppression of free speech and the integrity of news reporting.
Meanwhile, late-night show hosts including Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert have come out in support of Kimmel since his show was suspended. Kimmel, whose contract with the Walt Disney Co.-owned network expires in May 2026, has not commented on his suspension.
It's worth mentioning that in July, Colbert announced that CBS was cancelling The Late Show after a 33-year run next May. According to ratings data from Q2, Colbert's The Late Show averaged 2.42 million viewers per episode, while Jimmy Kimmel Live! brought in 1.77 million.
Trump has also accused networks and their hosts of having formal ties to the Democrats and described them as only providing him with negative publicity. However, he did not provide evidence to support these claims.
In response to these developments, the FCC's role in regulating broadcasting, telecommunications, and broadband could potentially be under scrutiny, with some questioning whether the Commission should be used as a tool for political censorship. The FCC's decision on whether to revoke broadcast licenses based on political affiliation or ratings remains to be seen, with Trump stating that the decision would be up to Brendan Carr, the FCC chair.
Trump described Carr as a patriot, tough, and someone who loves the country. Carr, for his part, has stated that the FCC could make a strong argument that Kimmel's comments were an intentional effort to mislead the American people about a core fundamental fact.
As the situation unfolds, the future of TV broadcasting and the balance between free speech and political pressure remains uncertain.
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