President Donald Trump called out ABC and NBC for not airing his primetime speech live, arguing their licenses should be revoked.
During his speech Thursday, Trump accused the networks of being “part of a plot” with others in the media and claimed they “knew what [the speech] was about” but didn’t air it live “because of the fact that they don’t like the topic.”
The threat was reminiscent of one that FCC chair Brendan Carr has issued several times during Trump’s second term, most notably toward ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel after comments he made about the 2025 death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
In April, amid the president’s demands that ABC fire Kimmel over a joke he made about the first lady, the FCC ordered an unprecedented review of all station licenses owned by the network. The agency claimed the early review stemmed from concerns that Disney violated FCC rules, “including the agency’s prohibition on unlawful discrimination.” An investigation into the company was also launched in early 2025 after Trump signed an executive order banning DEI programs in the federal government.
ABC later accused the administration of trying to diminish free speech rights after the FCC announced it was investigating “The View” for a possible violation of the equal time rule.
Trump and his administration have increased their attacks on journalists and press freedom in recent months, frequently attempting to intimidate, silence and harass members of the media.
But, despite Trump’s best efforts, the FCC would face significant obstacles if it ever were to attempt to strip a TV network of its license. If the FCC wanted to revoke ABC’s broadcast licenses, the agency would need to prove that the network had abused rules and participated in misconduct.
Also, the move to not air a president’s primetime address is not unprecedented. In 2022, networks chose not to air an address by then-President Joe Biden, arguing it was too “political,” according to The Washington Post. Major TV networks also didn’t air former President Barack Obama’s 2014 address on immigration.