Disney Fights FCC Over Free Speech: Democratic Commissioner Backs Legal Battle Against Trump Administration

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) only Democratic commissioner has escalated concerns over what she calls politically driven attacks by the Trump administration and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr against media outlets, including ABC’s The View and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

In a strongly worded letter to Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, Commissioner Anna M. Gomez praised Disney’s decision to challenge the FCC’s actions, stating,

"This is a fight worth having, and one that I am confident you will win."

"I am encouraged to see that Disney is choosing courage over capitulation. The fight ahead may not be easy, but the law, the facts, and the public are on your side."

Gomez’s letter followed Disney’s filing of a Petition for Declaratory Ruling with the FCC on Friday, arguing that the agency’s probe into The View for allegedly violating the “equal time” rule after Texas Democratic Senatorial candidate James Talarico’s appearance threatens to suppress protected speech.

Disney’s filing emphasized that The View has operated under a news exemption for more than 20 years, a status the company argues aligns with longstanding FCC interpretations designed to avoid First Amendment conflicts inherent in the equal time regime. The filing also highlighted the current media landscape, noting,

"There’s never been a more robust marketplace for American audiences to seek out political information from all sides,"

Gomez echoed Disney’s stance in her letter, arguing that the FCC’s investigation disregards decades of settled agency precedent, effectively rewriting rules to target specific broadcasters. She wrote,

"The pattern by now is familiar: a complaint is filed, an investigation is opened with maximum visibility, and the process itself becomes the pressure."

"These investigations are often announced with much fanfare, pursued selectively against perceived critics of this Administration, and most are destined never to be brought to any enforcement conclusion that could face judicial review."

The FCC’s scrutiny of The View comes after the agency’s Media Bureau ordered an early renewal review of ABC’s broadcast licenses last month. This unprecedented move followed late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial joke at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where he referred to First Lady Melania Trump as an “expectant widow” just two days before an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. While FCC Chairman Carr claimed the review was unrelated to the joke, he cited Disney’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices as the reason.

Gomez assured Disney in her letter that the FCC’s efforts to intimidate the company will fail, stating,

"The FCC’s internal