ABC News has accused the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of conducting an intimidation campaign by threatening to cancel broadcast licenses of media outlets critical of President Donald Trump. In a court filing on Thursday, the Disney-owned network highlighted the FCC's decision to conduct an early license review of eight ABC stations, a move not undertaken by the agency in over 50 years.

The FCC stated that the review, announced days after Trump demanded ABC fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, was prompted by an investigation into whether ABC's diversity policies constituted unlawful discrimination. This investigation follows a November incident when President Trump called for the FCC to revoke ABC's licenses after a correspondent posed a critical question to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, labeling the question "insubordinate."

ABC is urging the American public to defend its stations amid this scrutiny. The situation has raised concerns about press freedom in the US, which recently fell to a historic low in a press freedom tracker. Additionally, the Department of Justice recently withdrew subpoenas seeking testimony from New York Times journalists regarding their reporting on Trump's new Air Force One plane.

These developments occur against a backdrop of frequent pressure from the Trump administration on companies over coverage critical of the president and his allies.

Sources