Trump Declares War on the Media, Threatening to Revoke Licenses of Critics

SadaNews - US President Donald Trump threatened to revoke the licenses of television networks that attack him, in a significant escalation against media freedom. This comes after ABC network suspended Jimmy Kimmel's show following controversial comments. Trump filed a $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times, accusing it of bias against him, raising concerns about the future of free speech in the United States.

The US President stated that the licenses of television broadcasting networks in the United States should be scrutinized if they excessively criticize him, representing the broadest threat he has posed to media freedom.

He told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday, "When you have a television network and evening shows, and all they do is attack Trump, I think maybe their licenses should be revoked."

Trump's remarks came in the context of defending ABC's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel's show indefinitely after the host's comments regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. They coincided with his filing of a $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times.

Trump's War on Media

President Trump and his Republican allies have long complained about bias in mainstream US media against conservatives, repeatedly calling for the exclusion of late-night comedy hosts on CBS, ABC, and NBC due to their frequent criticisms of his administration.

Trump's comments represent a deviation from the established American traditions that guarantee freedom of expression and the press under the Constitution.

In Congress, most Republicans preferred to remain silent or expressed support for the President, while some prominent legislators on Thursday considered that ABC's decision to suspend Kimmel's show was made by the network itself, not the Federal Communications Commission.

ABC, a subsidiary of Walt Disney, announced on Wednesday the suspension of "!Jimmy Kimmel Live" indefinitely, after a wave of criticism from conservatives regarding the host's comments about the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and his supposed political affiliations. Earlier on Thursday, Trump supported the network's decision after facing pressure from its local stations, which announced they would pull the show from their screens.

Punishment for Trump's Critics

Trump stated in a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, "Jimmy Kimmel was primarily fired due to low viewership, more than any other reason, as he made an awful statement about a great man named Charlie Kirk. Whether that is viewed as freedom of expression or not, he was let go because he lacks talent."

Kimmel's remarks ignited a wide wave of anger among conservative commentators and were also met with criticism from Trump administration officials. Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, stated in an interview with journalist Benny Johnson via podcast that he has "strong grounds" to punish Kimmel and "ABC" and "Disney." It is worth noting that the FCC is the body authorized to grant licenses to broadcasting channels such as ABC and its affiliates.

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Carr clarified that the decision regarding whether the programs serve the public interest essentially lies with local stations, but indicated that these decisions could be subject to scrutiny by the agency.

He added, "We will continue to hold these stations accountable for their commitment to the public interest, and if they do not like this simple solution, they can return their licenses to the FCC."

The commission oversees the licenses of local television stations but does not have direct authority over television networks not subject to the licensing system.

Accusations Against the Republican Party

Jimmy Kimmel accused Republican Party members on Monday of exploiting Charlie Kirk's death to attack their opponents, stating, "The group (Make America Great Again) has sunk to a new low over the weekend when they tried to portray the young man who killed Charlie Kirk as not one of them."

Disney announced in a statement that the suspension of the program began with Wednesday's episode, following a decision made mere minutes after Nexstar Media Group, which owns dozens of local stations affiliated with ABC, announced that it would pull the show indefinitely, describing Kimmel's comments as "offensive and lacking sensitivity."

In contrast, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance attributed Kirk's death to what they described as "the left's incendiary rhetoric," pledging to investigate leftist organizations.

Additionally, individuals accused of celebrating his death or expressing negative views about Kirk (who is a controversial figure known for his ardent conservative stance on race and gender issues) faced widespread online attacks, and some lost their jobs.

Trump Sues the New York Times

These steps come as part of a broader campaign by President Trump against media he is dissatisfied with regarding its coverage. Last year, ABC agreed to pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump over statements made by host George Stephanopoulos. This week, the president filed a new lawsuit against the New York Times seeking $15 billion in damages, accusing it of pursuing an anti-Trump agenda.

The newspaper stated in a statement published on its website, "This lawsuit is baseless and lacks any legitimate arguments; it is merely an attempt to silence independent journalism and deter it from its work. We will not be intimidated from pursuing the truth fearlessly and impartially, and we will continue to defend journalists' right under the First Amendment to ask questions on behalf of the American people."

The Future of Free Speech in America

These issues have raised concerns among Trump's critics about the future of free expression in the United States.

A number of Democratic senators, including Democratic caucus leader Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Thursday stating, "The FCC's role in overseeing public airwaves does not grant it the authority to act as a roving censorship body targeting stations based on their political commentary; under your leadership, the commission is being used to do just that."

Despite most Republicans in Congress rallying behind Trump, some have warned against any steps that could be perceived as an attempt to use state power to influence free speech. Senator Rand Paul stated that while the First Amendment does not prevent companies from firing employees for "odious" statements, "the Federal Communications Commission should not intervene."

At the same time, conservatives have attacked European leaders for their attempts to limit violent or hate speech, considering these measures to unfairly target right-wing views.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in particular, has faced sharp criticism from billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the platform X, and from right-wing populist figures, over British efforts to restrain expression, including a wave of arrests following anti-immigrant riots last year.

Criticism has focused on the "Online Safety Act" (passed by the former Conservative government in 2023), which was condemned by Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, during a session before the House Judiciary Committee the beginning of this month.

Starmer said at the press conference on Thursday, "This country has long enjoyed freedom of expression, which is part of our national identity and values for which we have sacrificed. We defended it during World War II, side by side. Therefore, we do not need anyone to remind us of the importance of free expression in this country."

Earlier in the week, British police arrested four men on charges of "malicious communications" after a picture of US President Donald Trump next to the late convicted businessman Jeffrey Epstein was displayed on a wall at Windsor Castle, protesting the US president's visit to the UK.