After Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show was abruptly pulled from ABC’s lineup following threats from the FCC, Donald Trump is now pushing to expand the crackdown — this time, on every TV network that criticizes him.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during his return from the UK, Trump suggested that the Federal Communications Commission should consider whether networks are “fair” to him when reviewing their broadcast licenses.
“When you have a network, and they have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump. If you go back — I guess they haven’t had a conservative on in years or something — all they do is hit Trump. They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that. They’re an arm of the Democrat party,” Trump said.
He wasn’t done. Trump went on to claim that nearly every TV outlet is working against him.
“97 percent” of the networks are against him, he said, adding, “They’re getting a license. I think maybe their license should be taken away.”
This isn’t just a rant. Trump is now openly hinting at weaponizing the FCC to punish broadcasters he doesn’t like — something no modern U.S. president has dared suggest this blatantly.
Although major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and even Fox aren’t directly licensed by the FCC, their local affiliates are — and that’s where Trump seems to be aiming.
This all comes on the heels of Jimmy Kimmel Live! being suspended “indefinitely” on Wednesday. That decision came just hours after FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr — a Trump ally — warned ABC through a right-wing YouTuber that it would face consequences if it didn’t discipline Kimmel over a recent segment about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
A few hours later, the show was gone. No explanation from ABC. No word from Kimmel. Just silence — and a message that criticism of Trump might now come with consequences.
Trump, 79, praised Carr the next day, telling reporters, “I think Brendan Carr is doing a great job.”
He also used the moment to take shots at NBC’s other late-night stars, calling on the network to get rid of Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon too.
“Their ratings are also horrible,” Trump said. “Do it NBC!!!”
So what exactly did Kimmel say that was so outrageous?
In his opening monologue last week, Kimmel addressed the killing of Charlie Kirk and the immediate politicization of the tragedy by MAGA media figures. The host mocked their attempts to blame the shooter, Tyler Robinson, on liberal ideology.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang 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,” Kimmel said.
He noted the White House flew flags at half-staff and then cut to a clip of Trump being asked how he was coping with the death of his longtime ally. Trump, instead of showing grief, veered off into real estate commentary:
“I think very good, and by the way, right there where you see all the trucks, they just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House… It’s going to be a beauty.”
Kimmel’s reaction was sharp: “Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief, construction. Demolition, construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of somebody he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
Critics of ABC say that line may have gotten Kimmel pulled because it struck a nerve with Trump. But the real issue, some inside the network told Rolling Stone, was fear — plain and simple. Fear of retaliation from the White House. Fear that Brendan Carr wasn’t bluffing. Fear that Trump could make good on his threats.
And now, he’s laying the groundwork to do just that — by coming for the licenses of any station that criticize him.
