Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Paramount launched hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery to control CNN — Media conglomerate Paramount, owned by David Ellison (son of billionaire Larry Ellison), launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN. Paramount told shareholders that Trump would block the Netflix acquisition deal. Ellison told Trump he would make "sweeping changes" to CNN if Paramount acquires the company. Trump indicated to associates that he wants new CNN ownership and changes to CNN programming. Financing for the acquisition includes investment from Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and Saudi and Qatari sovereign wealth funds.
• Paramount launches hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery to control CNN — Media conglomerate Paramount, owned by David Ellison (son of billionaire Larry Ellison), launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN. Paramount's financing includes investment from Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner's investment company and Saudi and Qatari sovereign wealth funds. Paramount told Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders they should accept its offer because Trump would never allow the competing Netflix deal to proceed. Ellison told Trump he would make "sweeping changes" to CNN if Paramount acquires Warner Bros. Discovery. Trump has indicated to associates that he wants new ownership of CNN and changes to its programming.
• Media merger battle involving Trump allies — A media merger battle is unfolding as Paramount Skydance launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes CNN. The financing for this acquisition reportedly involves investments from Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and foreign sovereign wealth funds. This merger could lead to significant changes in CNN's programming, aligning it more closely with right-wing media narratives, as indicated by discussions between Trump and media executives about altering CNN's content.

Supporting reports

• Kristi Noem released a TSA video blaming Democrats for shutdown impacts. — Kristi Noem, as head of the Department of Homeland Security, released a video to be played in U.S. airports stating that TSA's top priority is ensuring pleasant and efficient airport experiences while keeping travelers safe. However, she blamed Democrats in Congress for refusing to fund the federal government, stating that because of this "most of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA employees are working without pay." The video uses federal resources and airport infrastructure to deliver a partisan political message blaming one party for the shutdown.
• Seattle and Portland airports refuse to air Kristi Noem video — Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Portland International Airport announced they will not broadcast a video by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that criticizes Democrats and blames them for flight delays. The airports determined the video violates the Hatch Act by using federal resources for partisan political messaging.
• Multiple U.S. airports refused to show Homeland Security partisan video — Many U.S. airports refused to show a new video intended to play on screens near security lines that features Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democratic lawmakers for the government shutdown. Some airports raised concerns that the video is a violation of the Hatch Act, which generally prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.
• Multiple airports refuse to air Kristi Noem partisan political advertisement — Thirteen major U.S. airports have confirmed they will not play a partisan political PSA video by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for airport delays. The airports refusing to air the video include Portland International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Niagara Falls International, Buffalo Niagara International, Westchester County, Phoenix International, Las Vegas International, Charlotte International, Cleveland International, LAX, JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark International.
• Airports refuse to air DHS shutdown video citing Hatch Act violation — Airports around the country refused to air a video recorded by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for display at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. The video blamed Democrats for the government shutdown. Some airports noted the video violates the Hatch Act, which prohibits the use of government assets for partisan purposes.
• Kristi Noem administration spending hundreds of millions on propaganda ads — Trump loyalist Kristi Noem's administration was spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on propaganda advertisements glorifying Trump and demonizing migrants, diverting resources from family protection programs.

Supporting reports

• Trump attacked Fox News for interviewing Senator Mark Kelly about Republican responsibility for government shutdown — Trump posted on social media criticizing Fox News Channel for interviewing Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and allowing him to point out that Republicans had shut down the government rather than extend premium tax credits for healthcare. Trump questioned why Fox News was "putting on Democrat Senator Mark Kelly to talk about, totally unabated or challenged, Healthcare" and complained that "The FAKE SPIN is so bad for Republicans that it is hard to believe that we WIN."
• Trump attacked Fox News and Pete Doocy — Trump posted on Truth Social attacking Fox News and reporter Pete Doocy for interviewing Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) about healthcare without "abated or challenged" opposition. Trump stated: "Why is Fox News and Peter Doocy putting on Democrat Senator Mark Kelly to talk about, totally unabated or challenged, Healthcare? The FAKE SPIN is so bad for Republicans that it is hard to believe that we WIN." Trump demanded Fox either "get on board, or get off board, NOW," claiming Fox benefits from Trump's ratings but spins them "in the Democrats' direction." Trump complained that Fox refuses to publish polls showing him at "65% in Popularity, a Republican RECORD."

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• 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.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatens broadcast licenses over Kimmel content — FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of local television stations that continued to air Jimmy Kimmel's show, pressuring them to drop the program. Carr made the threat while simultaneously signaling openness to rule changes that would allow Nexstar Media Group to acquire Tegna, a merger that would violate existing FCC ownership caps. The coordinated pressure on Nexstar CEO Perry Sook—who would become a billionaire from the deal—created a quid pro quo dynamic linking regulatory approval to media censorship.
• FCC Chair Carr approves Skydance-Paramount merger with Trump donor ombudsman condition — FCC Chair Brendan Carr approved Skydance Media's $8 billion merger with Paramount with a condition that a Trump donor be installed as an ombudsman at CBS News. The approval tied regulatory action to the placement of a political loyalist in a news oversight position.
• FCC Chair Carr claims credit for defunding NPR and PBS and removing liberal hosts — FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated that "NPR has been defunded. PBS has been defunded. Colbert is retiring. Joy Reid is out at MSNBC. Terry Moran is gone from ABC and is now admitting that they are biased. CBS has now made some commitments to us that they are going to return to more fact-based journalism." Carr presented these outcomes as accomplishments resulting from his regulatory actions.
• FCC Chair Carr launches investigation of NPR and PBS — FCC Chair Brendan Carr launched an ongoing investigation of NPR and PBS over sponsorship practices. This action is part of a broader pattern in which Carr has criticized nearly every major media company, demanded answers from YouTube parent Alphabet over alleged discrimination against faith-based programming, and threatened to block mergers of companies engaged in DEI practices.
• Sinclair Media demands Kimmel apology and donation to Charlie Kirk organization — Sinclair Broadcast Group, a right-leaning media company that owns local television stations, demanded that Jimmy Kimmel apologize and make a donation to Charlie Kirk's organization. Sinclair also seeks FCC approval to increase ownership caps for television stations, creating a similar quid pro quo dynamic as with Nexstar.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC over Jimmy Kimmel's commentary on Charlie Kirk assassination — FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC and its local affiliates with regulatory action after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made statements about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Carr stated the FCC had "remedies" available and told the network to "change conduct" regarding Kimmel or face "additional work for the FCC ahead." ABC, concerned about retaliation, cancelled Kimmel's show in response to the threat.

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• FCC Chair Brendan Carr argued for constraining national media outlets — FCC Chair Brendan Carr argued on Fox that media organizations "need to operate in the public interest" and that the FCC is working to determine how it can "constrain the power of these national programmers" like ABC, CBS, and NBC. When asked whether "fair coverage" means coverage more favorable to Trump, Carr did not directly deny the implication.
• Trump sued Wall Street Journal parent company for $10 billion over Epstein birthday letter story — Trump sued the Wall Street Journal's parent company Dow Jones and owner Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion after the Journal published a story by Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo reporting that Trump contributed a bawdy birthday letter to an album Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell compiled for Epstein's fiftieth birthday in 2003. The lawsuit was characterized as written primarily to rile up Trump's base, and the Wall Street Journal stood firm on the accuracy of its reporting while defendants moved to dismiss.

Supporting reports

• Paramount settled Trump lawsuit for $16 million — Paramount announced it will settle Trump's lawsuit related to the 2024 '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris for $16 million. A portion of the funds will pay for Trump's fees and costs, and the remainder will be donated to his future presidential library. The settlement did not include an apology but included a provision requiring release of future '60 Minutes' interview transcripts. The settlement represents a major payment to Trump from a media company.
• CBS ends Stephen Colbert's late-night show — CBS announced in July that it would end Stephen Colbert's late-night show in May 2026. Colbert is an outspoken Trump critic who had criticized Paramount for settling with Trump days before the announcement, calling it a "big fat bribe." CBS attributed the cancellation to financial reasons and stated it was unrelated to the show's content. Trump celebrated the decision on Truth Social, writing "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired."
• Paramount settles Trump lawsuit; CBS News hires Trump loyalist ombudsman — In July 2025, CBS News' parent company Paramount paid $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Trump, described in the article as "frivolous." In September 2025, CBS News hired a Trump loyalist to serve as ombudsman, tasked with reviewing news coverage for alleged "bias." These moves signal a shift in editorial direction at a historically fact-based news organization.
• Paramount settles Trump defamation lawsuit over CBS News 60 Minutes interview — Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement with Trump after he sued CBS News over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris that aired in October 2024. Trump claimed the interview was edited to make Harris look better and constituted "election interference," though editing interviews for clarity and length is standard journalistic practice. The settlement occurred as part of Paramount's broader effort to secure Trump administration approval for its merger with Skydance.