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FCC Moves to Yank Disney Broadcast Licenses as Trumps Demand ABC Fire Kimmel

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FCC calls in Disney-owned ABC stations for early license review in wake of Jimmy Kimmel controversy

FCC to direct Disney-owned TV stations to file early license renewals, source says

BBC News

FCC to review Disney broadcast licenses after Jimmy Kimmel joke about Melania Trump

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ORDER

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Jimmy Kimmel Roasts Trump & His MAGA Minions at Our Alternative White House Correspondents’ Dinner

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Suspect in White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting Charged with Attempt to Assassinate the President

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FCC preps review of Disney’s broadcast licenses after Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial Melania ‘joke’: report

Time

Jimmy Kimmel Speaks Out After Melania Trump Widow Joke Criticism

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered eight Disney-owned ABC stations to file early broadcast license renewals within 30 days on Tuesday,&nbsp;citing a probe into possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934, including the agency's prohibition on unlawful discrimination.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered eight Disney-owned ABC stations to file early broadcast license renewals within 30 days on Tuesday, citing a probe into possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934, including the agency's prohibition on unlawful discrimination.

In the order, the FCC described calling in the licenses for early renewal as "essential" and claimed it would allow the agency to carry out its investigation while assessing whether the broadcaster had been upholding its public interest obligations.

In the order, the FCC described calling in the licenses for early renewal as "essential" and claimed it would allow the agency to carry out its investigation while assessing whether the broadcaster had been upholding its public interest obligations.

The move follows <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/trumps-demand-kimmel-firing-over-melania-joke">controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel's joke</a> on April 23 that Melania Trump had "a glow like an expectant widow," only two days before <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/armed-man-breaches-secret-service-at-wh-dinner">a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Dinner</a>. The suspect has since been <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/man-charged-with-attempted-presidential-assassination">charged</a> with attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump.

Jimmy Kimmel

The move follows controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel's joke on April 23 that Melania Trump had "a glow like an expectant widow," only two days before a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The suspect has since been charged with attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a statement, the first lady described the gag — which Kimmel has defended — as "hateful and violent rhetoric" designed "to divide our country," with Trump later taking to Truth Social to call on ABC and Disney to "immediately" fire the late-night talk show host.

Melania Trump

Donald Trump

In a statement, the first lady described the gag — which Kimmel has defended — as "hateful and violent rhetoric" designed "to divide our country," with Trump later taking to Truth Social to call on ABC and Disney to "immediately" fire the late-night talk show host.

An anonymous source familiar with the matter confirmed to NBC that while the order was tied to a yearlong investigation into the reasons the FCC claimed, the agency fast-tracked the directive in response to Kimmel's joke.

An anonymous source familiar with the matter confirmed to NBC that while the order was tied to a yearlong investigation into the reasons the FCC claimed, the agency fast-tracked the directive in response to Kimmel's joke.

The eight stations affected are WABC-TV in New York, KABC-TV in Los Angeles, WLS-TV in Chicago, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, KTRK-TV in Houston, KGO-TV in San Francisco, WTVD in Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV in Fresno, whose licenses were not originally scheduled for renewal until 2028 at the earliest.

The eight stations affected are WABC-TV in New York, KABC-TV in Los Angeles, WLS-TV in Chicago, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, KTRK-TV in Houston, KGO-TV in San Francisco, WTVD in Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV in Fresno, whose licenses were not originally scheduled for renewal until 2028 at the earliest.

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The FCC ordered eight Disney-owned ABC stations to file early broadcast license renewals within 30 days, citing a probe into possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934, including the agency's prohibition on unlawful discrimination.

The FCC ordered eight Disney-owned ABC stations to file early broadcast license renewals within 30 days, citing a probe into possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934, including the agency's prohibition on unlawful discrimination.

The eight stations named in the FCC order are WABC-TV in New York, KABC-TV in Los Angeles, WLS-TV in Chicago, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, KTRK-TV in Houston, KGO-TV in San Francisco, WTVD in Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV in Fresno.

The eight stations named in the FCC order are WABC-TV in New York, KABC-TV in Los Angeles, WLS-TV in Chicago, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, KTRK-TV in Houston, KGO-TV in San Francisco, WTVD in Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV in Fresno.

The licenses were not scheduled for renewal until 2028 at the earliest. Legal experts say it is highly unlikely Disney would lose its licenses, as the FCC must demonstrate "intentional and repeated violations" of regulations.

The licenses were not scheduled for renewal until 2028 at the earliest. Legal experts say it is highly unlikely Disney would lose its licenses, as the FCC must demonstrate "intentional and repeated violations" of regulations.

The FCC order followed Jimmy Kimmel's joke that Melania Trump had "a glow like an expectant widow," which went viral after a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Dinner two days later.

The FCC order followed Jimmy Kimmel's joke that Melania Trump had "a glow like an expectant widow," which went viral after a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Dinner two days later.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm across state lines and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. A Secret Service officer was shot once in the chest during the incident.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm across state lines and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. A Secret Service officer was shot once in the chest during the incident.

Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez called the order "unprecedented, unlawful" and "a political stunt," while Disney said it was confident its stations had "a long record of operating in full compliance with FCC rules" and would respond through legal channels.

Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez called the order "unprecedented, unlawful" and "a political stunt," while Disney said it was confident its stations had "a long record of operating in full compliance with FCC rules" and would respond through legal channels.

The FCC has real authority to call in broadcast licenses for early renewal when an investigation demands it, and that's exactly what's happening with Disney's ABC stations. Possible violations of the Communications Act — including unlawful discrimination — aren't minor issues, and the public interest standard exists for a reason. Broadcasters don't get a free pass just because they're big.

The FCC has real authority to call in broadcast licenses for early renewal when an investigation demands it, and that's exactly what's happening with Disney's ABC stations. Possible violations of the Communications Act — including unlawful discrimination — aren't minor issues, and the public interest standard exists for a reason. Broadcasters don't get a free pass just because they're big.

The FCC's move against Disney's ABC stations is an unconstitutional attack on press freedom dressed up as regulatory oversight. The First Amendment doesn't bend for political pressure campaigns, and this action won't survive a serious legal challenge. Media companies should fight back hard rather than assume compliance buys any goodwill.

The FCC's move against Disney's ABC stations is an unconstitutional attack on press freedom dressed up as regulatory oversight. The First Amendment doesn't bend for political pressure campaigns, and this action won't survive a serious legal challenge. Media companies should fight back hard rather than assume compliance buys any goodwill.

Anna M. Gomez

FCC Orders Early License Renewal for 8 ABC Stations

United States of America

Politics

The FCC has real authority to call in broadcast licenses for early renewal when an investigation demands it, and that's exactly what's happening with Disney's ABC stations. Possible violations of the Communications Act — including unlawful discrimination — aren't minor issues, and demand firm action, which is exactly what the FCC is delivering with this order.

The FCC has real authority to call in broadcast licenses for early renewal when an investigation demands it, and that's exactly what's happening with Disney's ABC stations. Possible violations of the Communications Act — including unlawful discrimination — aren't minor issues, and demand firm action, which is exactly what the FCC is delivering with this order.

The FCC's move is an unconstitutional attack on press freedom dressed up as regulatory oversight. Thankfully, the First Amendment doesn't bend for political pressure campaigns, meaning this action won't survive a serious legal challenge. Despite this, corporations should fight back against Trump's censorship rather than assume compliance will buy any goodwill.

The FCC's move is an unconstitutional attack on press freedom dressed up as regulatory oversight. Thankfully, the First Amendment doesn't bend for political pressure campaigns, meaning this action won't survive a serious legal challenge. Despite this, corporations should fight back against Trump's censorship rather than assume compliance will buy any goodwill.

FCC Orders Early License Renewal for 8 ABC Stations

FCC Orders Early License Renewal for 8 ABC Stations

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FCC Orders Early License Renewal for 8 ABC Stations

FCC Orders Early License Renewal for 8 ABC Stations

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