‘License should be taken away’: Trump targets TV networks over negative coverage

US President Donald Trump connected Thursday suggested that tv networks that screen him “negatively” could look authorities punishment, adjacent hinting that their broadcast licenses should “maybe” beryllium taken away.

His comments came aft helium publically celebrated ABC’s suspension of late-night big Jimmy Kimmel.Speaking aboard Air Force One during his instrumentality from a authorities sojourn to the United Kingdom, Trump told reporters that large US networks were “97% against me,” though helium did not supply grounds to enactment the claim.“Again, 97% negative, and yet I won easily. I won each 7 plaything states,” Trump said. “They springiness maine lone atrocious press. I mean they’re getting a license.

I would deliberation possibly their licenses should beryllium taken away.”The president besides backed ABC’s determination to suspend Kimmel, calling him “not a talented person” who had “very atrocious ratings.” “Well, Jimmy Kimmel was fired due to the fact that helium had atrocious ratings much than thing else, and helium said a horrible happening astir a large man known arsenic Charlie Kirk,” Trump said, referring to the blimpish person who was assassinated past week astatine Utah Valley University.

“They should person fired him a agelong clip ago.”According to Nielsen ratings cited by LateNighter, Stephen Colbert’s Late Show led the late-night slot successful full viewers with 2.42 million. Kimmel’s amusement averaged 1.77 cardinal viewers successful the 2nd 4th of 2025 and somewhat outperformed Colbert successful the 18–49 demographic. However, viewership for Kimmel’s amusement declined by 11% implicit the past month. Despite the drop, Kimmel maintains implicit 20 cardinal YouTube subscribers, arsenic reported by the Guardian. The suspension triggered a crisp backlash. Around 200 protesters gathered extracurricular Walt Disney Studios successful Los Angeles connected Thursday, galore from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and different Hollywood unions that represented acotrs and musicians, according to Hollywood Reporter. The WGA issued a connection condemning the suspension arsenic “corporate cowardice” and informing against the maltreatment of authorities power. “The close to talk our minds and to disagree with each different – to disturb, adjacent – is astatine the precise bosom of what it means to beryllium a escaped people.

It is not to beryllium denied,” the national said.Former President Barack Obama besides weighed in, criticizing Trump’s remarks arsenic a “dangerous escalation.” In a station connected X, Obama wrote, “After years of complaining astir cancel culture, the existent medication has taken it to a caller and unsafe level by routinely threatening regulatory enactment against media companies unless they muzzle oregon occurrence reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.”

What erupted the controversy?

The contention began aft Kimmel suggested connected his amusement that “many successful MAGA onshore are moving precise hard to capitalize connected the execution of Charlie Kirk.” Within 24 hours, FCC seat Brendan Carr condemned the comments arsenic “truly sick” and hinted that ABC could look regulatory consequences. Nexstar, 1 of ABC’s large affiliate operators, labeled the remarks “offensive and insensitive,” prompting the web to suspend Kimmel indefinitely.The New York Times aboriginal reported that ABC executives were searching for a mode to bring Kimmel back, portion Disney CEO Bob Iger faced increasing disapproval implicit his relation successful the suspension. New York mag questioned whether the determination could “tarnish his bequest successful Hollywood.”Carr raised further concerns astir censorship erstwhile helium suggested connected podcast The Bulwark that the FCC mightiness reappraisal different ABC programs specified arsenic The View to find whether they inactive qualified arsenic “bona fide quality programs” and frankincense exempt from equal-opportunity broadcast rules.House Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, demanded Carr’s resignation, accusing him of pressuring ABC done regulatory threats. “Brendan Carr has engaged successful the corrupt maltreatment of power,” Jeffries and 5 different lawmakers said successful a associated statement. Democrats are besides drafting authorities to support governmental code from censorship, including circumstantial protections for individuals targeted for governmental reasons.The quality builds connected years of animosity betwixt President Trump and Kimmel. During the 2024 Academy Awards, Trump mocked Kimmel arsenic the “WORST HOST,” prompting Kimmel to work the remark aloud during the ceremonial and joke: “Isn’t it past your jailhouse time?” Kimmel besides clashed with Trump during his archetypal term, particularly implicit healthcare policy, erstwhile helium revealed that his babe son’s life-saving bosom country was made imaginable by the Affordable Care Act.Kimmel is the 2nd large late-night big to suffer his level successful caller months. CBS cancelled Stephen Colbert’s amusement successful July aft repeated disapproval of Trump. Meanwhile, Senator JD Vance joked online that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would instrumentality implicit Kimmel’s late-night slot, a jab astatine Rubio’s aggregate roles successful the Trump administration.