Trump Administration’s FCC Targets ABC’s Licenses Over Kimmel Joke, Critics Call It Unconstitutional Crackdown

The Trump administration has escalated its campaign against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and Disney by initiating an early review of ABC’s broadcast licenses, a process typically reserved for serious infractions. The move follows Kimmel’s joke last week calling First Lady Melania Trump an “expectant widow.”

On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it was reviewing ABC’s licenses—held by Disney—under an “early renewal” process, despite the licenses not being due for renewal until 2028, according to Semafor, which first reported the news.

The FCC’s stated reason for the review is to assess whether Disney engaged in “unlawful discrimination.” However, the timing of the action has raised concerns that the administration is attempting to retaliate against Kimmel’s remarks. This suspicion was amplified after President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social over the weekend, demanding that Disney and ABC “immediately fire” Kimmel in response to the joke.

The early review process is a rarely used tactic that could trigger a prolonged hearing, though it does not guarantee license revocation. Defending against the government’s allegations could still impose significant financial and operational burdens on Disney, CNN media reporter Brian Stelter noted.

This is not the first time the Trump administration has targeted ABC over Kimmel’s jokes. After Kimmel’s show was briefly pulled off the air last year following comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned that companies could “change conduct” regarding Kimmel or face further FCC action. Unlike then, Disney has refused to yield to the administration’s pressure this time.

In a statement on Tuesday, Disney said it was “confident” its record “demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment” and that it was prepared to defend its position “through the appropriate legal channels.”

Kimmel addressed the controversy directly on Monday. “Trump is allowed to say whatever he wants to say, as are you and as am I and as are all of us, because under the First Amendment we have as Americans a right to free speech,” he said.

The FCC’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from First Amendment advocates. Seth Stern, chief of advocacy for the Freedom of the Press Foundation, stated,

“The First Amendment and the FCC’s mandate do not permit the agency to use broadcast licenses as weapons to punish broadcasters for constitutionally protected content they air.”