Democratic FCC Commissioner Warns Trump Administration Targeting Disney and ABC with Censorship Campaign

The only Democratic commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a stark warning to Disney, alleging that the Trump administration is orchestrating a coordinated effort to censor ABC and exert control over media outlets.

In a letter sent to Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro on Monday, Commissioner Anna Gomez stated that ABC is facing a “sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control” from the White House. She further accused FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr of weaponizing the agency to suppress “a free and independent press.”

Gomez’s letter highlighted several regulatory actions as evidence of this campaign:

• The FCC’s demand that Disney apply to renew broadcast licenses for eight of its local TV stations.
• The agency’s investigation into the ABC talk show The View.
• The decision to reopen a complaint regarding ABC’s moderation of the 2024 presidential debate between Trump and Kamala Harris.

Gomez emphasized that these actions are “not a series of coincidental regulatory actions.”

Under Carr’s leadership, the FCC has also targeted late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for jokes about Trump, Charlie Kirk, and Melania Trump. These actions led to Kimmel being forced off the air for days last year.

“The goal was clear: use regulatory pressure to force his removal from the air and send a message to every other broadcaster about the cost of critical coverage.”

The FCC’s actions against Disney, ABC, and other networks are widely seen as part of Trump’s broader campaign against media outlets that criticize him. In December 2024, ABC paid Trump a $16 million settlement after he sued the network for defamation. Gomez noted that Trump intensified his attacks in the months following his second term.

“That settlement did not buy you peace,” Gomez wrote. “You cannot buy this Administration’s favor. For the right price, you can only borrow it. And the price always goes up.”

Gomez concluded her letter by vowing to “use every tool available” as a commissioner to expose the FCC’s efforts to curtail press freedom and hold the agency accountable.

Last week, Disney escalated its response by accusing the FCC of violating its First Amendment rights in a legal filing. The company has hired Paul D. Clement, a former U.S. Solicitor General under President George W. Bush, to represent it in potential litigation. This move signals Disney’s intent to vigorously defend itself against Trump’s attacks.

Gomez’s warning suggests that other news networks may need to take similar legal and regulatory steps to protect press freedom in the face of increasing government pressure.