Trump Administration Investigates ABC Amid Kimmel Feud, Sparking Free Speech Concerns
Al Jazeera Staff
President Donald Trump is facing backlash after the FCC launched investigations into eight ABC stations, following a joke by Jimmy Kimmel. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and free speech groups, have condemned the move as unconstitutional censorship. Even Republican Senator Ted Cruz expressed rare criticism, stating the government should not act as a speech police.
Critics and free speech advocates in the United States are condemning the Trump administration’s decision to review broadcast licenses of several ABC affiliates, calling the move “unconstitutional.”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Tuesday it had opened investigations into eight local ABC stations, requiring them to file early renewal applications, accusing diversity measures of potentially leading to “unlawful discrimination.”
The action comes after Trump and first lady Melania called for the firing of ABC host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke he made the previous week.
Clayton Weimers, executive director of Reporters Without Borders in North America, said: “The FCC’s unconstitutional threats against ABC are the latest confirmation that Chairman Brendan Carr has weaponized an independent agency to serve Donald Trump’s personal political agenda.”
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen wrote on X: “It must be a coincidence that the FCC launches an investigation right after Jimmy Kimmel made another joke Trump didn’t like. The FCC can try to spin this however they want, but this is just another blatant attempt to silence Trump’s critics and stifle free speech.”
Amnesty International USA also accused the FCC of using authoritarian tactics. The group stated: “This agency must start taking its responsibility to respect press freedom and freedom of expression seriously.”
Senator Ted Cruz Criticizes the Investigation
The FCC’s decision drew rare Republican criticism of the Trump administration when Senator Ted Cruz spoke out. Cruz told Punchbowl News: “The government has no business censoring speech, and I don’t believe the FCC should act as a speech police.”
Earlier, the White House had criticized Kimmel after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Kimmel had joked: “First lady Melania is here. Melania looks so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you glow like a widow in waiting.”
Kimmel dismissed the outrage, arguing it was “obviously” not a call to violence but a light joke about age disparity.
Disney Responds
This is not the first time Trump and his allies have targeted Kimmel. Last year, ABC suspended Kimmel after the FCC threatened action over a comment by the comedian. Disney, ABC’s parent company, stated its stations have “a long track record of full compliance with FCC regulations and service to local communities.”
A Disney spokesperson said: “We are confident that track record demonstrates our qualification as a licensee under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to prove it through appropriate legal channels.”
Efforts to revoke current stations’ broadcast licenses could face significant legal and administrative challenges, potentially spanning years. The last time the FCC successfully revoked a broadcast license over content was in 1969, targeting a local Mississippi television station accused of discriminating against African Americans.
‘An Overreaching Attack’
Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez called the agency’s move “unprecedented,” “unlawful,” and “certain to fail.” She told CNN: “This is the most overreaching attack on the First Amendment we have ever seen from this FCC.” The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from banning or “abridging” free speech.
On the same day, the Justice Department brought criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey over a social media post. Comey had shared an image of seashells arranged to form the number “8647”; “86” is slang for removing someone, while Trump is the 47th president. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche asserted the charges are “certainly not” politically motivated.
As a candidate, Trump promised to “restore free speech.” But since returning to the White House for a second term in January 2025, critics have accused the administration of intensifying efforts to silence dissent, especially around pro-Palestinian activism. Last year, the Trump administration launched a campaign to deport non-citizens, including foreign students and lawful permanent residents, for criticizing Israel.
