FCC Commissioner Claims Trump Administration Targets Disney with Censorship Campaign

• FCC Chairman Brendan Carr ordered an early review of Disney's eight ABC station licenses, not scheduled until October 2028, following White House calls to fire a late-night host over a joke
• The FCC is investigating ABC's 'The View' and 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' under federal equal time rules, declaring TV talk shows are no longer exempt as 'bona fide' news programs
• Commissioner Gomez stated that ABC's $15 million settlement for Trump's presidential library 'only bought you time' and warned the 'price always goes up' when dealing with the administration

FCC Commissioner Alleges Coordinated Censorship Campaign Against Disney

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez accused the Trump administration of conducting a "sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship" against Disney and its ABC network through regulatory actions. In a letter to Disney's CEO on May 11, Gomez characterized the actions as weaponization of federal authority to pressure media into submission.

Key Regulatory Actions:

• FCC Chairman Brendan Carr ordered an unusual early review of Disney's eight ABC station licenses in April, moving the timeline forward from the scheduled October 2028 date
• The review followed White House criticism of an ABC late-night host's joke
• The FCC is investigating ABC's "The View" under federal equal-time rules for political candidates
• In February, the FCC began probing ABC talk shows for alleged equal-time violations following an interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico
• The FCC reclassified TV talk shows, removing their "bona fide" news program exemption from equal-time requirements

Background Context:

The FCC has not revoked a broadcast license in over 40 years. In November, President Trump demanded ABC license revocation after criticizing a correspondent's question to Saudi Arabia's crown prince. In December 2024, ABC News settled a defamation lawsuit with Trump for $15 million to his presidential library over anchor George Stephanopoulos's on-air comments.

Market Implications:

This regulatory pressure represents significant operational and reputational risk for Disney. Gomez warned that the December settlement "only bought you time," suggesting escalating regulatory scrutiny regardless of attempts at appeasement. Neither Disney nor Chairman Carr provided comment on the allegations.

The situation highlights potential regulatory risks facing media companies under the current administration.