Overview

• In Aug. 24 Truth Social posts, the president called ABC and NBC "FAKE NEWS," alleged 97% negative coverage, and said he would favor license revocation.
• FCC licenses are held by local broadcast stations rather than national networks, which supply programming to affiliates.
• Legal precedent indicates the FCC cannot pull licenses over perceived bias, with courts striking down similar content-based efforts on First Amendment grounds.
• Under Chairman Brendan Carr, the FCC has opened inquiries into Comcast’s DEI programs and NBC’s dealings with its local affiliates.
• Trump recently settled lawsuits for $16 million with CBS and $15 million with ABC, as the FCC approved the Paramount Global–Skydance merger shortly after the CBS deal.