Overview

• In late-night Truth Social posts, President Trump called ABC and NBC "FAKE NEWS" that give him "97% BAD STORIES" and said he is "totally in favor" of the FCC revoking their licenses.
• Trump also urged that the networks pay "millions of dollars a year" in new license fees, writing that "crooked journalism" should be "terminated."
• National networks do not hold FCC broadcast licenses; local affiliates do, and attempts to punish perceived bias through license actions would collide with First Amendment limits, according to prior FCC statements and court precedent.
• The salvo follows an active FCC under Chair Brendan Carr, who has reopened complaints and initiated probes tied to broadcasters, including reviews involving Comcast/NBC and affiliate relationships.
• Trump’s posts arrive after high-profile settlements with media companies, including $16 million from CBS/Paramount and $15 million from ABC, while polling cited by outlets shows his approval well below the levels he claimed.