According to USA Today, President Donald Trump (Two Weeks Notice, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York) has stated that any overwhelming negative comment about him by television networks should be grounds for the Federal Communications Commission to revoke broadcast licenses. He suggested this after defending FCC chairman Brendan Carr (Media Buzz, Finnerty) for pressuring ABC to pull comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s (The Man Show, Crank Yankers) late-night show off the airwaves over comments Kimmel made regarding the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“They’re 97% against ‒ they give me only bad publicity or press,” Trump claimed in a Sept. 18 gaggle with reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew back to the United States from the United Kingdom via USA Today. “I mean, they’re getting a license. I would think maybe their license should be taken away. It will be up to Brendan Carr.”

As per USA Today, this treat by Trump, as well as ABC’s decision to suspend Kimmel’s show, has alarmed Democrats and First Amendment advocates over free speech concerns in the wake of Kirk’s fatal shooting. National television networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox are not granted licenses by the FCC. Instead, the FCC issues licenses to individual local broadcast affiliates authorizing the stations to use public airwaves.

According to USA Today, Trump stated that the way networks treat him should be taken into consideration when the FCC renews their licenses. “Look, that’s something that should be talked about for licensing, too,” Trump told reporters via USA Today. “When you have a network and you have evening shows and all they do is hit Trump ‒ that’s all they do. If you go back, I guess they haven’t had a conservative on in years, somebody said.”

“They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that,” Trump said, alleging via USA Today, “They’re an arm of the Democrat Party.”

As per USA Today, the FCC historically has operated as an independent agency of the executive branch, but Carr has aligned himself closely with Trump, who appointed him to the role. “I think Brendan Carr is doing a great job, and I think he’s a great patriot,” Trump said.