President Donald Trump renewed his attacks on major television networks on Sunday night, this time targeting ABC and NBC. In several posts on Truth Social, he demanded the networks lose their broadcast licenses. Trump claimed they provide him with overwhelmingly negative coverage despite what he called a successful presidency.
Trump said in his first message that ABC and NBC are “simply an arm of the Democrat Party.” He argued the Federal Communications Commission should revoke their licenses. He called the networks “biased, untruthful, and a threat to democracy.”
In a follow-up post, he questioned why ABC and NBC do not pay millions of dollars in license fees. Trump wrote that they should face large costs for using what he called “the most valuable airwaves anywhere.” He added, “crooked journalism should not be rewarded, it should be terminated.”
The statements echo Trump’s long battle with major media outlets. He has often described them as “fake news” and accused them of favoring Democrats. He cited statistics that 97 percent of their coverage of him is negative.
Legal experts quickly noted that Trump has little power to enforce such demands. The FCC’s authority over news content is limited. The Fairness Doctrine, once requiring balanced viewpoints, was dropped in 1987. Under current law, the FCC cannot censor news content or infringe on First Amendment rights.
In Trump’s first term, he made similar threats toward NBC. Ajit Pai, then his FCC chair, pushed back. Pai said the FCC lacked power to revoke a broadcaster’s license based on how it reported the news. He also pointed out that the FCC licenses individual local stations, not whole networks.
This time, however, circumstances are different. Trump’s newly appointed FCC chair, Brendan Carr, has taken a tougher stance on media companies. Carr has gained attention for his role in the broader Project 2025 initiative, which critics view as hostile to the press.
When the Skydance-Paramount merger was approved this year, Carr highlighted commitments from the company to reflect “a diversity of viewpoints.” That signaled his willingness to pressure broadcasters on content decisions, something earlier commissioners avoided.
The idea of charging fees to broadcasters is not new. Last year, Elon Musk posted on X that networks use public airwaves unfairly while supporting Democrats. He argued their spectrum use should not come without costs. Trump’s current demands appear to echo this line of argument.
Critics warn the administration has been showing greater interest in monitoring media activity. Border agents have been reported questioning some travelers about critical social media posts. Advocates say this is part of a wider campaign to influence news coverage.
The constitution protects the freedom of the press. Many legal scholars say that any attempt to revoke broadcast licenses based on “unfair” reporting would collapse in court. Still, Trump’s language signals ongoing hostility toward key television networks.
For now, neither ABC nor NBC has commented on Trump’s latest remarks. But the issue once again highlights the sharp tension between the White House and the country’s largest broadcasters as the administration continues its battles with U.S. media.
