OAN Staff Lillian Mann and Brooke Mallory
7:00 PM – Tuesday, April 28, 2026
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reportedly moving to challenge the broadcast licenses of ABC-owned stations, following a series of controversial monologues by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, which the White House has described as “malicious disinformation.”
The escalation comes in the wake of a reported third assassination attempt occurring during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this past Sunday.
Beyond the specific content aired by Kimmel, the FCC is also said to be investigating ABC’s parent company, Disney, regarding what officials describe as a broader pattern of public interest violations.
According to incoming reports, the commission is preparing to call in all Disney-owned television licenses for an early renewal process to review these concerns. A Disney spokesperson has since confirmed that the company is aware of the situation and has received the official order from the FCC.
“ABC and its stations have a long record of operating in full compliance with FCC rules and serving their local communities with trusted news, emergency information, and public‑interest programming,” the spokesperson said.
“We are confident that 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,” the spokesperson added.
Disney has maintained its silence regarding a Monday post on Truth Social from President Donald Trump, in which he called for Kimmel’s immediate termination. The demand followed a morbid, controversial remark by the host, who referred to First Lady Melania Trump as an “expectant widow.”
Nonetheless, Disney appeared to signal its continued support for Kimmel by airing his program as scheduled on Monday night. This decision is particularly notable given that the show faced a suspension last fall during a previous period of intense government scrutiny.
Despite the president’s post, Kimmel responded by saying, “Trump is allowed to say whatever he wants to say, as are you and as am I, and as are all of us, because under the First Amendment we have as Americans the right to free speech.”
The intensifying friction between the White House and major broadcasters has centered on a fundamental debate over First Amendment protections, corporate accountability, and the government’s role in shielding the public from disinformation.
At the heart of this dispute is the administration’s reported stance that the use of public airwaves constitutes a privilege subject to oversight rather than an absolute right. While the ABC station licenses in question are not scheduled for standard renewal for several years, FCC Chair Brendan Carr indicated last month that the commission may intervene early.
Citing the Communications Act, Carr noted on X that the agency possesses the legal authority to call in licenses for premature review — a move that could trigger an exhaustive and expensive hearing process for Disney and require the company to commit substantial resources to its legal defense.
This latest regulatory challenge also follows a history of tension between the network and the executive branch. Specifically, these events come seven months after ABC briefly suspended Kimmel’s program in the wake of contentious remarks he made regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah.
In that instance, Kimmel had questioned the political motivations of the accused, attempting to paint the shooter as a conservative or “MAGA Trumper,” drawing both widespread mockery, criticism and government scrutiny. This left-wing “theory” was also later contradicted by reports of the suspect’s text messages, which indicated political opposition to Kirk.
As the FCC moves forward with its current order, the situation exemplifies an escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to ensure that networks operating on public frequencies adhere to what it deems necessary standards of public interest and factual integrity.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below