Donald Trump Accuses ABC & NBC of Being Democratic Pawns, Says Their Licenses Should Be Revoked
After seemingly settling a score with CBS in the settlement of his 60 Minutes lawsuit, Donald Trump is setting his sights on ABC and NBC, which he claims are political pawns of the Democratic Party.
“Wow, ‘Concast’s’ NBC is down in viewership almost 28% this year,” the U.S. president wrote on Truth Social on Saturday, July 26. “Their programming is terrible, their management even worse. They are an arm of the Democrat Party, and should be held accountable for that. Likewise, Fake News ABC!”
Seven minutes later, he had more to say on the matter. “Networks aren’t allowed to be political pawns for the Democrat Party,” he wrote. “It has become so outrageous that, in my opinion, their licenses could, and should, be revoked!”
Trump did not provide evidence of NBC and ABC being political pawns for the Democrats, nor did he cite a source for the purported dip in NBC ratings. According to ratings data cited by NewscastStudio, NBC Nightly News charted year-over-year audience growth for the second quarter of 2025 under new host Tom Llamas, ranking as the only evening newscast to post gains in both total viewers and adults 25-54 from the same time last year.
Though he once was an NBC star himself via his involvement with The Apprentice, Trump has taken aim at NBC and other broadcast networks before.
“With all of the Fake News coming out of NBC and the Networks, at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License?” he wrote on Twitter in October 2017, per Brookings. “Bad for country!”
He added at the time: “Network news has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked. Not fair to public!”
Ajit Pal, then the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, responded to Trump’s comments. “Under the law, the FCC does not have the authority to revoke a license of a broadcast station based on the content of a particular newscast,” he said at the time, per The Washington Post.
Then, in October 2024, Trump criticized the networks again. “60 Minutes is a major part of the News Organization of CBS, which has just created the Greatest Fraud in Broadcast History,” he claimed on Truth Social, per Brookings. “CBS should lose its license, and it should be bid out to the Highest Bidder, as should other Broadcast Licenses, because they are just as corrupt as CBS — and maybe even WORSE!”
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R
Freedom of speech seems to be dead in America Our president is the personification of a dictator.
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B
By that logic - Fox is a political pawn of the republican party so the same should apply to them.
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O
But it won't because they kiss his ass, like the dictator wants.
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O
As well as newsmax and oan
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G
The only thing needing to be revoked is his job as president. The man is a mental case and the only house he should be in is a house in a location that’s known as Never Never Land!
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O
He needs to be impeached and removed from office. He is a threat to our free speech and our freedoms. He needs to be impeached before he completely destroys our beautiful country.
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O
When the Democrats win the house and senate by landslides next year, that all may come to fruition 🙏👍
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P
🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣 Only in your dreams. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for making me laugh I needed that !!
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O
Trump hates free speech.
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A
I'll just say this again, "Trump can go to Hell!"
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D
But FOX, Trump's personal 'mouth piece' is just fine? Trump's totally convoluted logic, is often 'beyond the pale!'
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O
So according to his (il)logic, in 2029 when common sense and civility returns to the white house, the red-hat mafia would perfectly understand when Faux News (and OAN and Newsmax) are shut down. No, that would never happen. Why?? Because.... FIRST AMENDMENT.
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G
Dictators always take over the media and make it their mouthpiece. Trump is already a dictator and laying the ground work to be President for life. The term “state run media”, as in Russia was considered such an awful thing when I was a kid. Now MAGA stays silent on this issue. They should talk to people who live in Russia—except they would be putting their lives in danger to be honest about their lives. Is that really the kind of country you want to live in MAGA???
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E
Good job
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C
I think this man has lost his mind... He"s no longer a President he thinks he's a King ... Don't agree with him ..and its let them be beheaded! such a shame he's been allowed to get away with this nonsense. What happen to the right of free speak and opinion ? Dear Lord please save our Country and values and freedom !
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O
Futures
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O
Futures Disney Junior, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney+
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O
That is right. What is suppose to be true of one side should go for both. None of the news networks should answer to political parties. Only viewership should matter. Viewers should make a network by their patronage. What polititains think is their own probem. They should do their job and news media should be free of what polititains think.
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B
We don’t need a lot of news to know what kind of a person Trump is. A spoiled brat who is used to always getting his way. Not a concern for anyone but himself.
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O
I always love futures Disney Junior, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney+.
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O
I love futures Disney Junior, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney+
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B
He is a disgrace! Fox News should lose their license, too, by that logic.
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