Trump calls for ABC, NBC licenses to be revoked over speech blackout

President Donald Trump argued that television networks, including CNN, ABC and NBC, that declined to carry his primetime address on election security should lose their broadcast licenses, accusing them of deliberately suppressing information about alleged election wrongdoing.

During the address, Trump alleged that China had illegally obtained millions of voter records as part of a wider campaign to influence US elections in both 2018 and 2020, Caliber.Az reports, citing Politico.

Several broadcasters, including CBS, MS NOW and Fox News, aired the remarks either in full or in part. Although NBC and ABC did not broadcast the speech on their main networks, both made it available through their streaming platforms.

Trump singled out NBC and ABC during his address, charging that the networks were helping conceal what he described as election fraud.

“In a rare move, NBC and ABC fake news have both said that they would not cover this speech. They knew what it was about,” he said. “Fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses.”

Broadcast networks are under no obligation to carry presidential speeches during primetime hours. Historically, presidents have typically reserved nationally televised evening addresses for periods of crisis or major national importance. While networks have often provided live coverage of such speeches, there have been notable exceptions.

In 2022, several major broadcasters declined to air President Joe Biden's address on threats to democracy. Similarly, ABC, CBS and NBC chose not to carry President Barack Obama's 2014 primetime speech on immigration.

Trump has repeatedly suggested revoking the licenses of television networks whose coverage he considers hostile. He previously contended that ABC should lose its license following the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after the death of Charlie Kirk. In a December social media post, Trump also maintained that networks providing coverage that is “almost 100% negative” should have their broadcast licenses “terminated.”

However, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has limited authority to revoke broadcast licenses on his own. The FCC's licensing process is constrained by provisions in the Communications Act governing license reviews, while broadcasters are also protected under the First Amendment.

The FCC did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Trump's latest remarks.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov