Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• FCC accelerates ABC license renewal review following White House attack on Jimmy Kimmel — The Federal Communications Commission, led by Trump-appointed chair Brendan Carr, announced an accelerated review of eight ABC-owned local broadcasting licenses (WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KTRK-TV Houston, KGO-TV San Francisco, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham, and KFSN-TV Fresno). The licenses were not scheduled for renewal until 2028–2031 but now must be filed by May 28, 2026. The action follows the White House's attack on late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke about Melania Trump. The FCC cited an ongoing investigation into Disney's diversity practices as justification, though critics characterize the move as political retribution and regulatory intimidation.
• Federal Communications Commission announced review of ABC's broadcast licenses — On April 28, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission announced it is reviewing ABC's broadcast licenses following a joke made by late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel about First Lady Melania Trump on April 24, 2026. FCC chair Brendan Carr, a Trump loyalist who frequently attacks media organizations, leads the agency.
• FCC orders Disney/ABC license renewal in retaliation for Kimmel criticism — FCC Chair Brendan Carr issued an order directing Disney's ABC to file license renewals for all licensed TV stations within 30 days (by May 28, 2026). The order is widely viewed as retaliation for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's criticisms of Trump and the network's resistance to Trump administration pressure to fire Kimmel. The FCC asserts the review relates to an ongoing probe into Disney's diversity initiatives, but the timing and context suggest political retaliation. The order initiates a protracted legal process, though ABC has broad legal protections.
• FCC accelerates review of ABC broadcast licenses following Kimmel joke — On Monday, following Melania Trump's public criticism of ABC host Jimmy Kimmel for a joke about her appearance, FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced the agency was expediting its review of eight ABC local broadcasting licenses. Carr denied the action was related to Kimmel's monologue, but the timing and context suggest regulatory retaliation for constitutionally protected speech critical of the Trump family.

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• Trump endorses FCC chair's threat to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage — Donald Trump posted on Truth Social expressing he was "thrilled" that FCC Chair Brendan Carr was "looking at the licenses" of news organizations reporting unfavorably on the Iran war. Carr had stated on X that broadcasters running "hoaxes and news distortions" should "correct course before their license renewals come up" or "lose their licenses." In a Reuters interview, Carr said license revocations were "on the table" and accelerated reviews were possible. Trump claimed news outlets "knowingly" disseminated false information and should face treason charges, while Defense Secretary Hegseth barred press photographers and singled out CNN.
• Trump posted social media attacks on New York Times and Wall Street Journal — President Trump posted on social media that the New York Times and Wall Street Journal "actually want us to lose the War" and that their "terrible reporting is the exact opposite of the actual facts." Trump called the outlets "Lowlife 'Papers' and Media" and characterized journalists as "truly sick and demented people that have no idea the damage they cause the United States of America," citing his 2024 election victory as proof that Americans understand events better than "Fake News Media."
• Trump posted that media outlets should face treason charges for false reporting — President Trump posted on social media that media outlets generating stories he characterized as "FAKE" "should be brought up on Charges for TREASON for the dissemination of false information." Trump reiterated support for FCC Chair Brendan Carr's attack on the media and insisted he won the presidential election "IN A LANDSLIDE."

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• FCC chair threatens to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, warned on Saturday that broadcasters could lose their licenses if they air what the agency deems "fake news" or "hoaxes" about the Iran conflict. Carr stated on X that broadcasters must operate in the public interest or "will lose their licenses." He doubled down in a CBS News interview, claiming licenses are not a property right and broadcasters must avoid "news distortion." The threat drew immediate criticism from both Democrats and a Republican senator.

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• FCC chair pressures ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel over Kirk comments — Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr pressured ABC to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over comments Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk's killing. The action drew criticism from some Republicans concerned about government interference in free speech and media editorial decisions. Democratic senators, including Chuck Schumer, called the pressure "government censorship" and demanded Carr's resignation, accusing him of "corrupt abuse of power" and threatening congressional subpoena power.
• FCC Chairman Carr threatened retaliation against ABC over Jimmy Kimmel — Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to retaliate against ABC for its handling of comedian Jimmy Kimmel's employment. The threat was characterized as an attempt to pressure the network regarding speech the administration disfavored. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) publicly criticized Carr's threat as "unbelievably dangerous," comparing it to extortion and warning that government should not decide which speech to permit or threaten broadcasters with removal from the air.
• FCC chair threatened ABC over Jimmy Kimmel comments — FCC Chair Brendan Carr warned ABC that the agency may take regulatory action against the broadcaster, including "the possibility of fines or license revocation," over comments Jimmy Kimmel made on his late-night show about Trump and the response to Charlie Kirk's death. The threat came after Kimmel's monologue criticized the politicization of Kirk's assassination.
• FCC threatens to revoke ABC broadcast licenses over Kimmel's criticism — FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of ABC stations after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel criticized the Trump administration's response to Charlie Kirk's death. In response to the regulatory threat, ABC indefinitely pulled Kimmel's show off the air. The action represents regulatory retaliation against media criticism of the administration.
• FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC broadcast license revocation — Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr threatened that ABC must suspend comedian Jimmy Kimmel's show or lose its broadcast license. The threat was made in response to Kimmel's on-air comments about MAGA Republicans' search for someone to blame. Carr later denied involvement in the suspension after public backlash.

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• Disney pulled Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show indefinitely after satirical commentary on Charlie Kirk. — ABC/Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night program indefinitely following his on-air satire targeting those exploiting Charlie Kirk's name. The article frames this as corporate censorship of protected speech and satire, arguing that removal of the show signals corporate control over which critiques are permitted on broadcast platforms. No official statement from Disney or ABC is quoted; the suspension is presented as a response to pressure from powerful interests.
• ABC cancels Jimmy Kimmel Live following Trump pressure and FCC complaints — ABC, owned by Disney, indefinitely suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" following pressure from the Federal Communications Commission and Nexstar, the country's largest owner of local ABC stations. The cancellation came after Kimmel's monologue criticized characterizations of a person who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than a MAGA supporter. Trump celebrated the cancellation on his social network, calling it "Great News for America."
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr pressures ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live over on-air comments — FCC Chair Brendan Carr condemned late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's on-air comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killing as "truly sick" and suggested ABC and Disney could face regulatory consequences for violating public-interest obligations under federal broadcasting rules. ABC suspended Kimmel Live indefinitely on Wednesday. House Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, issued a joint statement accusing Carr of "corrupt abuse of power" and demanding his resignation, characterizing the suspension as government-coerced censorship and threatening congressional investigations and subpoenas.
• ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night television show — ABC pulled comedian Jimmy Kimmel's show off the air following his on-air commentary Monday about the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel's monologue criticized efforts by "the MAGA gang" to characterize Kirk's killer as anything other than one of them and to score political points from the death. The suspension came after FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly threatened broadcast licensees with fines and license revocation, and after Nexstar (the largest ABC affiliate operator) announced it would cease airing the program. Kimmel's show attracts top ratings in the 18-49 demographic and has over twenty million YouTube subscribers.
• ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel's show — ABC suspended production of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show on September 18, 2025, allegedly in response to his on-air comments about MAGA Republicans. The suspension followed threats from FCC chair Brendan Carr that ABC would lose its broadcast license if it did not suspend the show. After intense public backlash, ABC announced on September 22, 2025, that the show would return to air on Tuesday.
• ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel's Show — ABC suspended the television show of comedian Jimmy Kimmel following his comments about the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. The suspension was influenced by remarks from FCC chair Brendan Carr, who suggested that broadcasters could face consequences for airing Kimmel's show. The largest operator of ABC affiliates, Nexstar, announced it would stop airing Kimmel's show, leading to ABC's decision to suspend it. This action has sparked significant backlash regarding free speech and artistic expression.
• Nexstar Stops Airing Kimmel's Show — Nexstar, the largest operator of ABC affiliates, announced it would cease airing Jimmy Kimmel's show, which contributed to ABC's decision to suspend the program. This move came amid pressure from FCC chair Brendan Carr regarding Kimmel's comments.
• ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show indefinitely — ABC indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show after the comedian suggested "many in Maga land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk." The suspension followed FCC Chair Brendan Carr's condemnation of Kimmel's remarks as "truly sick" and suggestions of regulatory consequences, and came after affiliate operator Nexstar called the comments "offensive and insensitive." The decision prompted widespread protests, boycott calls against Disney, and criticism from industry figures and Democratic lawmakers.
• FCC chair Brendan Carr threatens ABC over Jimmy Kimmel commentary — FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC over comedian Jimmy Kimmel's comments regarding reaction to the killing of far-right activist Charlie Kirk. The network suspended Kimmel's show in response. Democrats accused the Trump administration of censoring a prominent dissenter. Congressman Ro Khanna made a failed attempt to subpoena Carr at a congressional hearing to address the threat.
• FCC chair signals regulatory scrutiny of ABC talk shows — FCC Chair Brendan Carr suggested the commission might investigate whether ABC talk shows including The View "qualify as bona fide news programs" and therefore remain exempt from equal-opportunity rules. Carr's comments came after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel's show following his critical remarks about Charlie Kirk, raising concerns that regulatory threats influenced the network's decision to remove the comedian.
• Trump threatens to revoke TV network licenses over "negative" coverage — President Trump suggested on Air Force One that TV networks covering him negatively could face government punishment, claiming networks are "97% against me" and stating their licenses "should be taken away." Trump falsely claimed major networks require government licensing (the FCC does not license networks like CBS, NBC, ABC, or Fox). Trump also celebrated ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show, calling the comedian "not a talented person" with "bad ratings."
• ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel's show following administration pressure — ABC suspended comedian Jimmy Kimmel's television show after the Trump administration applied pressure to the network. The suspension occurred in the context of the administration's broader effort to divide the country into political friends and enemies and to use government power against perceived opponents.
• ABC suspends late-night host Jimmy Kimmel from air — ABC suspended late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel from his program. The suspension followed pressure from FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who had threatened to revoke broadcast licenses of stations airing Kimmel's show. Multiple sources and commentators characterized the action as government censorship targeting a critic of the Trump administration. The suspension prompted widespread commentary from comedians, journalists, and political figures about threats to press freedom and First Amendment protections.

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• FCC Chair Carr agrees to testify before Senate Commerce Committee regarding Kimmel suspension pressure — Brendan Carr, Trump-appointed FCC chair, agreed to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee following Disney's temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's talk show. On September 17, Carr appeared on a conservative podcast and stated "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," pressuring broadcasters to stop airing Kimmel's show over comments about conservative pundit Charlie Kirk. Major carriers Nexstar and Sinclair subsequently pulled the show, forcing ABC's hand. ABC suspended the show indefinitely but brought it back a week later after subscriber cancellations. The hearing date has not been set but is expected after November.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC with license revocation if network did not remove Jimmy Kimmel from air — FCC Chair Brendan Carr issued a direct threat to ABC, stating "We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way" and warning of "additional work for the FCC ahead" if the network did not take action against Jimmy Kimmel. The threat came hours before ABC announced cancellation of Kimmel's show. Senior ABC and Disney executives convened emergency meetings; multiple execs felt Kimmel had not crossed a line, but the threat of Trump administration retaliation drove the decision.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened broadcast licensees with fines or license revocation over Jimmy Kimmel's show — On a right-wing podcast, FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated that Jimmy Kimmel's on-air commentary about Charlie Kirk's murder constituted a "concerted effort to try to lie to the American people" and warned that the FCC had "remedies" available. Carr told licensed broadcasters they could face fines or license revocation if they continued airing Kimmel's program. He explicitly stated: "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." Following these threats, Nexstar (the largest ABC affiliate operator, which requires FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger) announced it would stop airing Kimmel's show, and ABC subsequently suspended the program.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr Threatens Action Against Kimmel — Brendan Carr, chair of the FCC, stated on a podcast that Jimmy Kimmel's comments were part of a "concerted effort to try to lie to the American people" and warned of potential remedies against broadcasters who air Kimmel's show. He indicated that the FCC could take actions against licensed broadcasters if they do not address Kimmel's conduct.

Supporting reports

• Nexstar Media Group announced it would stop airing Jimmy Kimmel's show from its stations — Nexstar, the largest operator of ABC affiliates, announced it would cease broadcasting Jimmy Kimmel's program from its stations. This decision came after FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly threatened broadcast licensees with fines or license revocation over Kimmel's commentary. Nexstar requires FCC approval for a pending $6.2 billion merger, creating a direct regulatory leverage point for the agency's threats.
• Nexstar canceled Kimmel from their stations — Nexstar, a major broadcast company, announced it would not carry Jimmy Kimmel's show on its stations. Nexstar is currently awaiting FCC approval for a major acquisition of Tegna, which requires both FCC permission and a change to existing FCC regulations on station ownership limits.
• Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it will air tribute to Charlie Kirk in Kimmel's time slot and demanded apology and donation — Sinclair Broadcast Group, which controls a large percentage of local TV stations in America and is owned by Trump supporter David Smith, announced it will air a one-hour tribute to Charlie Kirk on Friday on all ABC-affiliated stations in Kimmel's 11:30 PM time slot. Sinclair called upon Kimmel to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family and make a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk family and Turning Point USA.

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• Trump called for revocation of broadcast licenses for critical networks — Trump posted statements on social media calling for the revocation of broadcast licenses for NBC and ABC, claiming they are "political pawns for the Democrat Party" and have become "outrageous." He cited NBC's viewership decline and criticized their programming and management, demanding they be "held accountable."

Supporting reports

• Trump suggests certain media groups should be "illegal" — In recent weeks, Trump has suggested that some media groups should be "illegal," escalating his rhetoric against news organizations. This statement reflects the administration's increasingly aggressive posture toward the press and represents a threat to press freedom itself.
• Funding cut from Voice of America — The Trump administration has cut funding from Voice of America, a U.S. government-funded international news organization. This action reduces the capacity of a key institution for communicating American values and news globally.
• Trump signed executive order slashing federal funding for NPR and PBS — In late April 2025, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at slashing federal funding for NPR and PBS, accusing both news outlets of spreading "radical woke propaganda." This action is part of a broader crackdown on press freedom and government-funded media outlets critical of or independent from the administration.
• Trump calls for defunding NPR and PBS — On April 1, Trump posted on Truth Social calling on Republicans to "defund and totally disassociate themselves" from NPR and PBS, baselessly calling the public broadcasters "radical left 'monsters.'" The statement targeted public media for perceived political bias.