Accusations of Biased Coverage
Donald Trump has intensified his attacks on the media, targeting ABC News and NBC News. The former president accused both networks of deliberately one-sided reporting and warned they should “pay a heavy price.” Writing on Truth Social, Trump claimed that 97 percent of stories about him were negative, despite what he described as his strong popularity. He also argued that coverage of Republicans and conservatives in general was “unfair.”
Call for FCC Action
Referring to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which oversees broadcasting in the United States, Trump said the two networks acted as “an arm of the Democratic Party.” In his view, their licenses should be revoked, or at the very least, the broadcasters should face steep costs for using what he described as “the nation’s most valuable airwaves.” He labeled ABC and NBC “two of the worst and most biased broadcasters worldwide” and called them “a real threat to our democracy.”
Press Freedom Versus Political Pressure
In the U.S., television licenses are typically issued by the FCC for eight years and can only be revoked in cases of serious violations—not for critical reporting. Freedom of the press is safeguarded by the Constitution. However, during Trump’s second term, the FCC has been increasingly seen as a tool for advancing his political agenda. He appointed Republican Brendan Carr as FCC chairman shortly after his election.
Targeting Other Media Outlets
Trump has also clashed with other news organizations. The Wall Street Journal was recently barred from traveling on the presidential plane after publishing a report on Trump’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Associated Press remains excluded from Air Force One as well, after refusing to adopt Trump’s directive to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”
