Trump threatens broadcast licenses of 'fake news' ABC, NBC

President Trump on Monday threatened the broadcast licenses of both ABC and NBC television networks, saying that they are "fake news." 

"Despite a very high popularity and, according to many, among the greatest 8 months in Presidential History, ABC & NBC FAKE NEWS, two of the worst and most biased networks in history, give me 97% BAD STORIES," Trump said.

"IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEY ARE SIMPLY AN ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND SHOULD, ACCORDING TO MANY, HAVE THEIR LICENSES REVOKED BY THE FCC. I would be totally in favor of that because they are so biased and untruthful, an actual threat to our Democracy!!! MAGA"

In a follow-up post, he wrote, "Why is it that ABC and NBC FAKE NEWS, two of the absolute worst and most biased networks anywhere in the World, aren’t paying Millions of Dollars a year in LICENSE FEES.

"They should lose their Licenses for their unfair coverage of Republicans and/or Conservatives," he continued, "but at a minimum, they should pay up BIG for having the privilege of using the most valuable airwaves anywhere at anytime!!! Crooked 'journalism' should not be rewarded, it should be terminated!!!"

Trump has no love for mainstream broadcast networks and has been calling them "fake news" since the beginning of his political career about 10 years ago. While in office for his second term, Trump has kicked the AP out of their special seat in the Oval Office and on Air Force One, has encouraged Congress to pull funding for both NPR and PBS, which they did, and has made major overtures to smaller, conservative outlets who are able to gain far more White House access than they did under the Biden administration.

The Trump White House has also restored hundreds of press passes that had been revoked by the Biden administration and held far more press conferences than the prior White House. Trump speaks to reporters multiple times per week as well and takes questions, whereas Biden rarely did.

The allegations of "fake news" are not without evidence. In 2024, Trump sued CBS parent Paramount Global over an interview they aired with then-VP and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris that was substantially edited to make her look better. The broadcast company settled with Trump for $16 million this summer.

Also in 2024, Trump sued ABC after news show host George Stephanopoulos said that Trump had been found liable for rape in the case brought against him in New York by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. He had been found liable in a civil court of sexual abuse. ABC paid out $15 million in a defamation suit. Those funds are slated for Trump's presidential library.

In 2025, media watchdog group Media Research Center conducted an analysis showing that 92% of the mainstream media coverage of Trump's first 100 days in office was negative. 

The FCC, however, does not license ABC or NBC, as they are both national networks. The FCC does provide licensing for local affiliates that air broadcast news from both of those networks. Congress is responsible for the imposition and collection of those fees.