US President Donald Trump has suggested that some TV networks should have their licenses 'taken away,' supporting America's broadcast regulator in a dispute over the suspension of ABC host Jimmy Kimmel. The Disney-owned network announced on Wednesday that it was pulling Kimmel off air indefinitely following backlash over his comments about the murder of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel's remarks on Monday implied that the suspect was a conservative Republican, though authorities stated the alleged gunman was 'indoctrinated with leftist ideology.' The FCC threatened action, leading ABC to suspend Kimmel’s show.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump highlighted that he had read that networks were '97% against him' yet he still managed to win the swing states in last year's election, suggesting that their negative press warranted license reviews. Kimmel had described the actions of the 'Maga gang' in the aftermath of the shooting, and Trump criticized the lack of fair media coverage.
After Kimmel’s suspension, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that it was not the last action regarding media accountability, emphasizing the need for broadcasters to adhere to the public interest. Kimmel's suspension has attracted both condemnation and support, illustrating the divide over issues of accountability versus free speech in the current political climate.
Various prominent figures, including former President Barack Obama, have condemned the actions against Kimmel as indicative of an alarming trend in media censorship.
