US regulator orders early review of ABC licences after Trump calls for Kimmel to be fired

Coverage Comparison

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered an early review of the broadcast licences of ABC's eight owned-and-operated television stations, a decision that has ignited a political and legal firestorm. The order, announced on Tuesday, comes just days after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump publicly called for ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke about Melania's age. While the FCC officially attributes the early renewal request to an ongoing investigation into Disney's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices, critics — including Democratic senators and free-speech advocates — have decried the move as an unconstitutional attempt to silence the president's critics.

The developments have been covered by outlets across the political spectrum, with varying emphasis. ABC Australia and the South China Morning Post reported the core facts neutrally, while Al Jazeera and The Guardian framed the FCC's action as part of a broader pattern of political interference. The Jerusalem Post highlighted a separate request by the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), a Christian media association, asking the FCC to investigate ABC over Kimmel's comments, alleging they could incite political violence.

Key Claims

• The joke: On the April 23, 2026 broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel performed a parody of the upcoming White House Correspondents' Association dinner, addressing First Lady Melania Trump and saying, "Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow." The joke was a reference to the age difference between the president, who turns 80 in June, and the first lady, who is 56.

• The White House response: On Monday, President Trump called for Kimmel to be fired, and Melania Trump posted on X, "It's time for ABC to take a stand," adding that Kimmel's "rhetoric is designed to divide our country." She said his monologue "deepens the political sickness within America."

• The FCC order: The FCC ordered ABC's eight stations — including WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, and KTRK-TV Houston — to file for licence renewal by May 28, years ahead of their original renewal dates (2028–2031). FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, said the early renewal was needed in connection with an investigation into Disney's DEI practices.

• The NRB request: The National Religious Broadcasters asked the FCC to investigate ABC over Kimmel's comments, arguing they "raise concerns about the normalization and potential incitement of political violence." NRB General Counsel Michael Farris cited existing law allowing limits on speech that incites violence.

• Kimmel's response: On his Monday night show, Kimmel said the joke "obviously was a joke about their age difference," adding, "It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he's almost 80 and she's younger than I am."

Perspectives

The White House and supporters: President and Melania Trump have framed Kimmel's joke as unacceptable and called for ABC to take action. The NRB's request echoes this concern, pointing to the broader context of political violence, including an attempted attack at the White House Correspondents' dinner on April 25, which the White House has linked to inflammatory rhetoric.

The FCC: FCC Chair Brendan Carr has stated that the early licence renewal is part of an ongoing investigation into Disney's DEI practices, which the commission considers potentially "unlawful discrimination." The FCC maintains it has the authority to ensure broadcasters operate in the public interest.

Critics and free-speech advocates: Democratic senators, led by Edward Markey, Chuck Schumer, Maria Cantwell and Ben Ray Luján, sent a letter calling the early-renewal order an "extraordinary abuse of power" and an "unconstitutional abuse of the Commission's powers." Reporters Without Borders' Clayton Weimers said the FCC has "no authority to revoke ABC's licences just because the president can't take a joke." Senator Chris Van Hollen wrote on X that the move is "another flagrant attempt to silence Trump critics & stifle free speech." Amnesty International USA accused the FCC of using "authoritarian tactics."

ABC and The View: Separately, ABC's Houston station KTRK-TV has filed a legal motion pushing back against an FCC investigation into The View, accusing the commission of "punishing" the network "for political purposes." The station argues the show qualifies for an exemption to equal-time rules as a bona fide news interview program, and that the FCC's actions "threaten to upend decades of settled law and practice and chill critical protected speech."

The FCC's order represents the latest collision between the Trump administration and Disney, coming as new CEO Josh D'Amaro faces his first major crisis. The outcome of the licence review could have significant implications for broadcast regulation and the boundaries of political speech in the United States.