Trump Threatens Broadcast Licenses of Major Networks Amid Escalating Media Feud.

President Donald Trump has intensified his long-running battle with the U.S. media, threatening to terminate the broadcast licenses of major television networks he accuses of covering him and his political allies unfairly.

In a post published early Wednesday on his Truth Social platform, Trump questioned whether networks that air what he described as overwhelmingly negative coverage of him, the MAGA movement and the Republican Party should be allowed to keep their licenses.
“If Network NEWSCASTS, and their Late Night Shows, are almost 100% Negative to President Donald J. Trump, MAGA, and the Republican Party, shouldn’t their very valuable Broadcast Licenses be terminated? I say, YES!” he wrote.

A Pattern of Confrontation With the Media

The remarks are the latest in a series of public clashes between the president and journalists, broadcasters, and late-night television hosts. Trump has frequently accused major media organizations of political bias and has suggested punitive actions against outlets he believes are hostile to his administration.

Earlier this year, Trump launched several high-profile legal actions against media companies. This month, he filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC, alleging the British broadcaster defamed him by editing one of his speeches in a 2021 Panorama documentary. In October, he also refiled a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and three of its reporters.

Why It Matters

Trump’s latest comments come amid broader concerns about press freedom in the United States. Civicus, a nonprofit organization that monitors civic space in 198 countries, recently downgraded the U.S. civic freedom rating from “narrowed” to “obstructed,” citing growing political pressure on the media as one of the contributing factors. Critics argue that threats against broadcast licenses risk undermining long-standing protections for a free and independent press.

Past License Threats and FCC Response

The president has previously suggested that television networks should have their licenses revoked. He raised similar concerns after ABC temporarily suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following controversial remarks related to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One in September, Trump claimed that networks were “97 percent against” him, despite his electoral victories.
“They give me only bad publicity,” he said. “I would think maybe their license should be taken away. It would be up to Brendan Carr.”

At the time, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr responded by emphasizing the agency’s role in regulating broadcasters in the public interest, stating that license holders unwilling to meet those obligations could voluntarily turn in their licenses.

Attacks on Late-Night Hosts

In separate Truth Social posts on Wednesday, Trump also took aim at late-night television personalities, particularly CBS host Stephen Colbert. The president described Colbert as a “pathetic trainwreck” and criticized his ratings, calling on CBS to cancel his show.

Trump further criticized late-night programming across networks, writing, “Who has the worst Late Night host, CBS, ABC, or NBC??? They all have three things in common: High Salaries, No Talent, REALLY LOW RATINGS!”

What Happens Next

Despite Trump’s rhetoric, the FCC does not have the authority to directly cancel the broadcast licenses of major networks such as ABC, CBS, or NBC. However, it can revoke or deny the renewal of licenses held by local stations that serve as affiliates of those networks, a process that typically involves regulatory reviews rather than political considerations.

As tensions between the White House and the media continue to escalate, Trump’s latest statements are likely to fuel further debate over the limits of presidential power, media accountability, and the future of press freedom in the United States.