US President Donald Trump has suggested television networks that give him negative coverage could have their broadcasting licences revoked. Trump made the comments to reporters aboard Air Force One following his state visit to the UK this week.
The president's remarks came after ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its schedule following controversial comments the host made about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The network's decision has sparked widespread criticism and accusations of government censorship from Hollywood figures.
Presidential criticism of media coverage
Trump told reporters he had read that networks were "97% against" him and questioned whether they should retain their broadcasting licences. "I get 97% negative … and if they're 97% against and they give me only bad publicity, press, and they're getting a licence, I would think maybe their licence should be taken away," he said.
The president described late-night shows as hitting Trump constantly and called them "an arm of the Democrat Party". He claimed the programmes were licensed and "not allowed to do that", adding: "If you go back and you see they haven't had a conservative on in years."
Industry backlash and solidarity
Fellow late-night comedians rallied to support Kimmel through their own programmes. Jon Stewart hosted a special Daily Show edition on Thursday, satirically portraying a "patriotically obedient host" and mocking the situation.
Stewart closed his monologue by describing the administration's speech concerns as "a cynical ploy" and "a smokescreen to obscure an unprecedented consolidation of power". Seth Meyers on NBC followed suit, sarcastically praising Trump while noting the administration was pursuing "a crackdown on free speech".
Stephen Colbert was more direct in his criticism during Thursday's Late Show, which posted on social media: "The Late Show stands with Jimmy Kimmel and his staff." Jimmy Fallon expressed support for Kimmel, calling him "a decent, funny and loving guy".
Political and industry responses
Former President Barack Obama condemned the situation as "precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent". Obama posted on social media that the current administration had taken cancel culture "to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies".
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists released a statement calling the suspension "the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone's freedoms". Hollywood figures including Ben Stiller and Jamie Lee Curtis voiced support for free speech rights on social media.
However, Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr defended the action, telling Fox News the FCC would "continue to hold these broadcasters accountable to the public interest". He added that broadcasters could "turn their licence in to the FCC" if they disagreed.
Background to the controversy
Kimmel's comments that led to his suspension concerned the shooting death of Charlie Kirk, a prominent political commentator and Trump ally. Kirk was shot dead at a Utah Valley University event last week.
Tyler Robinson, aged 22, was charged on Tuesday and could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Kirk. Kimmel had criticised what he called the "Maga gang" response to the shooting and questioned Trump's reaction to his ally's death.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
