President Donald Trump has suggested that television networks which cover him “negatively” could face government action, as controversy continues over ABC’s suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his return from a state visit to the United Kingdom, Trump claimed that major US networks were “97% against me”, though he offered no evidence for the figure, saying only that he had “read it someplace”.
“Again, 97% negative, and yet I won easily. I won all seven swing states,” he said. “They give me only bad press. I mean they’re getting a licence. I would think maybe their licences should be taken away.”
The president’s assertion that national television networks require government licences is incorrect. While local stations must be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the regulator does not license national networks such as CBS, NBC, ABC or Fox.
Trump welcomed ABC’s decision to suspend Kimmel’s programme, describing the comedian as “not a talented person” with “very bad ratings”. He claimed Kimmel had been “fired” for poor performance and for making “a horrible thing” about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Nielsen figures show that while Stephen Colbert’s Late Show leads in total viewers, Kimmel’s programme averaged 1.77 million viewers in the second quarter of 2025 and narrowly led in the 18–49 demographic. However, viewership fell by 11% in the past month. Kimmel also has more than 20 million YouTube subscribers.
The suspension has prompted protests outside Walt Disney Studios in Los Angeles, organised by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), with around 200 people attending. The union condemned the decision as an attack on free speech, stating: “The right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other, to disturb, even, is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people.”
Former president Barack Obama criticised what he called a “dangerous” escalation by the Trump administration, accusing it of threatening regulatory action against media companies to silence critics.
The row began after Kimmel said on air that “many in Maga land are working very hard to capitalise on the murder of Charlie Kirk”. FCC chair Brendan Carr called the remarks “truly sick” and suggested ABC could face consequences. The network suspended the show after affiliate operator Nexstar branded the comments “offensive and insensitive”.
Reports in the New York Times suggest ABC executives are seeking a way to reinstate Kimmel, with Disney chief executive Bob Iger facing scrutiny over his role in the decision.
Carr has since said the FCC might examine whether ABC’s The View still qualifies as a bona fide news programme, raising further concerns over censorship.
Industry figures have condemned the suspension. Veteran host David Letterman described it as “managed media” and “ridiculous”, while Lost creator Damon Lindelof vowed not to work with Disney unless Kimmel is returned to air.
Kimmel, a long-standing critic of Trump, is the second major US late-night host to lose his programme in recent months, following CBS’s cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show in July.
Democratic lawmakers have accused Carr of abusing his position to pressure ABC, with House leader Hakeem Jeffries calling for his resignation. Representative Ro Khanna has moved to subpoena Carr, describing the administration’s actions as “the largest assault on the first amendment and free speech in modern history”.
Senator Chris Murphy and Congressman Jason Crow have announced plans to introduce legislation to protect anti-government speech from censorship, including a specific defence for those targeted for political reasons.
