Disney and ABC sue FCC over Trump administration's content control efforts
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Disney sues FCC over its attempt to rein in content, challenge its ABC licenses Disney and ABC on Tuesday sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), arguing that the Trump administration is attempting to censor journalists by urging the agency to conduct an early review of ABC’s broadcasting licenses. The lawsuit alleges the administration waged a “retaliatory campaign” on ABC and encouraged the FCC to use its regulatory power to…
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Washington ExaminerThe federal lawsuit, filed in the District of Columbia, seeks to halt the FCC from “taking or threatening to take any action” against Disney and ABC broadcast television stations regarding the early license renewal applications.
The Guardian USAfter being forced to apply early to renew its license to broadcast on the eight local television stations it owns, ABC has sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), arguing that it is being retaliated against for content-based reasons.
The Daily WireDisney argues that the FCC’s action is an unconstitutional attempt to pressure the company over the content it broadcasts. “Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts,” Disney attorneys wrote in the lawsuit.
NBC NewsThe Walt Disney Company, ABC and a number of its stations on Tuesday sued the Federal Communications Commission, seeking to stop an early license renewal process that they say is an attack by the Trump administration.
PBS NewsHourABC sues FCC over challenge to broadcast licenses ABC has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's Federal Communications Commission, alleging violation of its First Amendment rights.
NPR NewsThe ABC network sued the Federal Communications Commission in federal court Tuesday in a case with major First Amendment implications, arguing that the Trump administration has violated its free speech rights by launching investigations and challenging its broadcast licenses in retaliation for its news coverage, late-night satire and views on talk shows.
USA TodayThe federal complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, centered on the FCC’s April order for the Disney-owned ABC to file license renewals for its eight television stations by late May – years ahead of schedule. The order said the commission was investigating the stations “for possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and the FCC’s rules, including the agency’s prohibition on unlawful discrimination.”
New York TimesABC Sues Trump Administration Over F.C.C. Threat to Its TV Licenses The network asked a court to stop the agency from taking steps that could force ABC stations off the air and accused the F.C.C. of violating its First Amendment rights.
Washington TimesABC is suing the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission over possible blockage of the network’s broadcast station licenses.
HuffPostABC, which filed the suit on Tuesday, is accusing the FCC of targeting the network and its owned-and-operated stations just because the president doesn’t like the programming.
BreitbartIn its suit, ABC requested a preliminary injunction stopping the license renewal process on the grounds that this, the first early renewal request from the FCC since the 1970s, is political retaliation against protected speech.
Associated PressABC had accused the agency of a brazen attempt to chill its constitutionally protected free speech — and by extension, that of every media outlet in the country. The network’s July comments came in its latest filing to the agency, expressing its formal opposition to the FCC’s early review, launched in April, of eight ABC local broadcast licenses well before they expire.
ReutersDisney, ABC sue US regulator over threats to broadcast licenses - Reuters Disney, ABC sue US regulator over threats to broadcast licenses Reuters
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President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired. When the FCC launched its early review of ABC’s licenses in April, it came amid a fight with Kimmel over a joke that offended Trump. The agency cited diversity, equity and inclusion practices at the company. Messages were sent seeking comment to the FCC and ABC.
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NBC NewsThe move from the FCC also came after the White House and President Donald Trump himself assailed ABC late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel for a joke about the first lady Melania Trump.
The Daily WireTrump has repeatedly called for Kimmel to be fired, including after the president accused the late-night host of making a “despicable call to violence” about the president and first lady Melania Trump. The FCC’s early review, however, formally centers on ABC’s broadcast licenses and the agency’s authority to determine whether broadcasters are operating in the “public interest.”
HuffPostBack in April, the FCC appeared to retaliate against a joke made by ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel about first lady Melania Trump by suddenly requiring ABC to file early broadcast license renewal applications for all eight of its television stations.
Washington ExaminerThe chairman denied that the agency’s decision to require an early license review of ABC was linked to Kimmel’s joke, even though the inquiry started shortly after Trump and his wife called on ABC and Disney to take the comedian off the air.
NPR NewsBut he has also been outspoken in his support for Trump's agenda, including specific criticisms of ABC, Kimmel, "The View" and its journalists. In one instance, he warned that ABC and Disney could "do this the easy way or the hard way" amid the president's call for Kimmel to be pulled off the air. The host was suspended and returned days later after a major public outcry.
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Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro signaled last week that the company was prepared to continue fighting the administration. “We’re going to stand up to what we believe is journalistic integrity,” D’Amaro told CNBC. “And we’re not going to be told how to run that side of our business.”
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NBC News“We’re going to stand up to what we believe is journalistic integrity,” Josh D’Amaro told CNBC. “And we’re not going to be told how to run that side of our business,” he added referring to the ABC broadcast network.
Washington ExaminerThe complaint dropped days after Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro indicated that the company would not capitulate to the FCC’s threats against its journalism business.
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ABC and Disney own eight local TV stations which beam out the national network's shows and local programming in specific regions. Among them are stations in six of the nation's largest markets, which contribute significantly to ABC's bottom line.
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Washington TimesMore than 200 stations carry ABC affiliation nationwide, but the review targets only the eight that Disney directly owns.
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In September 2025, Disney briefly pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from the air after Carr publicly criticized Kimmel over comments he made following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel had questioned the motives attributed to Kirk’s alleged killer and criticized Republicans for their response to the killing.
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Washington TimesLast September, Disney suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for a week after the late-night host belittled conservatives for grieving the killing of Charlie Kirk. The remarks drew public condemnation, plus pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
NBC NewsIn September 2025, Disney pulled Kimmel off the air briefly after pressure from FCC chairman Brendan Carr. Kimmel had made a comment about the motivations of the man who authorities say fatally shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel also criticized Republicans for how they responded to Kirk’s killing.
10 details only one outlet reported
Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 Washington Examiner “Plaintiffs come to this Court reluctantly with no alternative means to eliminate these ongoing and immediate threats other than total capitulation to the Administration’s demands,” the lawsuit reads.
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02 USA Today Disney said at the time it was “confident” its “record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels.”
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03 NPR News The lawsuit starts: "Government censorship is deeply un-American." It goes on to note that, in the words of a recent unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision involving the National Rifle Association, the government may not "use the power of the State to punish or suppress disfavored expression."
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04 HuffPost Gomez, the FCC’s only Democratic commissioner, told MeidasTouch reporter Scott MacFarlane that it’s about time a media conglomerate went on the offensive against the agency.
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05 The Guardian US The network filed the lawsuit on Tuesday while it waits to hear whether the Brendan Carr-led FCC approves its renewal requests, or, more likely, holds a hearing on their merits.
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06 BBC News Published A judge who was recently nominated by Donald Trump to serve in Florida's federal court has taken over as judge in the US president's $10bn defamation case against the BBC.
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07 ABC News ABC News' Mike Dobuski discusses the latest on who is suing the president and prediction markets expert Robin Hanson shares more on the intersection of politics and prediction markets. August 17, 2026
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08 Breitbart Ah, but as you’ll see below, when Democrats threatened ABC’s broadcast license in 2006, ABC and Disney rolled over like good dogs. This is all about protecting Disney using ABC as a super PAC for the Democrat Party.
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09 Washington Times The early review comes amid tension between the administration and ABC’s late-night programming.
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10 The Daily Wire The conflict over ABC’s licenses intensified after the administration’s public clashes with Kimmel.
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