Following his recent victory over CBS News, President Donald Trump has shifted his focus to ABC and NBC, accusing these networks of bias and unfair coverage. In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump questioned why these major broadcasters are not paying license fees, claiming they should be penalized for alleged misinformation and political bias.

“Why is it that ABC and NBC FAKE NEWS, two of the absolute worst and most biased networks anywhere in the world, aren’t paying millions of dollars a year in LICENSE FEES?” Trump wrote. “They should lose their licenses for their unfair coverage of Republicans and conservatives, but at a minimum, they should pay up BIG for the privilege of using the most valuable airwaves anywhere at any time! Crooked ‘journalism’ should not be rewarded; it should be terminated!”

While Trump has repeatedly threatened to revoke the licenses of broadcasters he deems biased, such actions have yet to materialize. However, his efforts highlight how he seeks to leverage government authority to influence media operations. The recent case involving CBS demonstrates this approach: Paramount, CBS’s parent company, settled a $16 million dispute with Trump and agreed to install a “bias monitor” as part of the approval process for an $8 billion merger with Skydance, overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Now, Trump appears intent on applying similar pressure to ABC and NBC, suggesting that these networks could face licensing issues or financial penalties if their coverage continues to be unfavorable from his perspective. Observers note that while regulatory threats have historically been difficult to enforce, the possibility of increased government scrutiny remains a significant tool in Trump’s media strategy.

For more information on FCC licensing procedures and regulations, visit the official FCC website and related regulatory resources.

Ethan Cole

I'm Ethan Cole, a tech journalist with a passion for uncovering the stories behind innovation. I write about emerging technologies, startups, and the digital trends shaping our future. Read me on x.com