Trump Hints at Stripping TV Licenses from Networks That Criticize Him
President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that TV networks could lose their federal licenses if he believes they are being negative toward him. His remarks came a day after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should consider revoking licenses for broadcasters critical of him. “I mean, they’re getting a license. I would think maybe their license should be taken away. It will be up to Brendan Carr,” he said, referring to the FCC chairman.
“I think Brendan Carr is outstanding. He’s a patriot. He loves our country, and he’s a tough guy, so we’ll have to see.”
Trump criticized late-night network shows, claiming they are biased against him. “All they do is hit Trump. They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that. They’re an arm of the Democrat Party,” he said.
⚡️Trump:
— The Global Monitor (@theglobal4u) September 18, 2025
When you have a network and you have evening shows and all they do is hit Trump… They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that. pic.twitter.com/YQq41L42Tt
The suspension of Kimmel’s show followed comments he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10. Kimmel had said that MAGA Republicans were “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.”
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with Kirk’s murder. According to reports, Robinson was raised in a conservative household but had recently leaned left politically.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr warned that Kimmel’s suspension might not be the end. Speaking to Fox News, he said, “This is a massive shift that’s taking place in the media ecosystem. I think the consequences are going to continue to flow.” He repeated similar warnings on CNBC, saying, “We’re not done yet.”
The FCC provides licenses to broadcast stations that serve the public interest. License holders are required by law to operate their stations responsibly and report on how they meet public needs.
House Democrats criticized both Trump and Carr. Led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, they called on Carr to resign and accused the administration of attacking the First Amendment. In a statement, they said: “Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s war on the First Amendment is blatantly inconsistent with American values. The censoring of artists and cancellation of shows is an act of cowardice.”
Threatening broadcasters over negative coverage sets a worrying precedent for free speech. Media should be able to criticize public figures without fear of losing their licenses. What do you think about Trump’s comments and the FCC’s role in this situation? Share your thoughts in the comments.
