Overview
- During an Oval Office availability with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ABC’s Mary Bruce asked why the president would not order the Justice Department to release the files himself.
- Trump called Bruce “a terrible person” and ABC “fake news,” and said FCC Chair Brendan Carr should “look at” taking the network’s broadcast license.
- He denied involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, said he expelled him from his club years ago, and characterized the focus on the records as a “Democrat hoax.”
- The House later approved a bipartisan bill directing the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related records, and the president has said he would sign it if it reaches his desk.
- The FCC licenses individual stations and rarely revokes licenses, and there was no immediate sign of regulatory action as ABC’s parent, Disney, did not immediately comment.