Trump Threatens to Revoke Broadcast Licenses Amid Criticism of Media
On September 19, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of television networks that criticize him, asserting that outlets with licenses should not oppose him. His comments came after ABC temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s show following the host’s remarks about the killing of far-right activist Kirk, reports 24brussels.
During a flight aboard Air Force One from the United Kingdom, Trump expressed disdain for what he called the media’s overwhelming bias against him. “I read somewhere that the networks were 97% against me. Ninety-seven percent negative. And yet, I easily won in the seven key states (in the presidential election),” he stated. “If they’re 97% against me, they only give me bad publicity and still have a license, I would say maybe their license should be taken away.”
The president intensified his critique of media networks, alleging they lack conservative representation. “If you look back, you see they haven’t had a conservative on for years. I think someone said, ‘Take a look, all they do is hit Trump.’ They have a license. They’re not allowed to do that. They’re an arm of the Democratic Party,” he added.
Earlier on the same day, Trump dismissed the notion that Kimmel’s show suspension was an act of censorship, framing it instead as a response to low viewership. “He should have been fired a long time ago,” Trump remarked.
ABC announced on September 18 that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would be suspended indefinitely due to the controversy surrounding Kimmel’s comments about the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, who was killed the previous week. Nexstar Media Group, which owns numerous local TV stations in the U.S., indicated that it would replace Kimmel’s show with alternate programming, criticizing the remarks as “offensive and insensitive.”
Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, stated, “Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located.”
In his monologue on Monday night, Kimmel suggested the suspect in Kirk’s murder could have been a supporter of Trump, stating, “The MAGA Gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
In response to escalating tensions following Kirk’s death, Trump and various administration officials pinned blame on the “radical left.” The president rejected the Democrats’ assertion that political violence has emerged from both sides of the aisle.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr threatened regulatory action against Disney and ABC due to Kimmel’s remarks, indicating the music network’s licenses could be at risk. This drew criticism from FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, who cautioned against using extreme violence to justify censorship, stating, “An inexcusable act of political violence by one disturbed individual must never be exploited as justification for broader censorship and control.”
The ongoing conflict between Trump and media outlets highlights a significant moment in American broadcasting and political rhetoric, raising questions about freedom of speech and the responsibilities of media organizations. As events unfold, the ramifications of these tensions will likely continue influencing the national conversation.