Trump Calls Out Networks For Not Airing Speech

President Donald Trump said CNN, ABC and NBC should have their broadcast licenses revoked for not airing the speech Thursday night,

Sandra RhodesJul 17, 20262 min read

ABCCNNDonald TrumpFederal Communications CommissionNBCU.S. News

Watch:

https://x.com/Acyn/status/2077929132508487794?s=20

TV networks have the discretion whether or not to air presidential remarks in primetime.

In the past, presidents used this time for major addresses for national crises or critical moments.

Many networks did not broadcast President Joe Biden’s address on threats to democracy in 2022.

Then, in 2024, ABC, CBS and NBC did not air President Barack primetime speech on immigration.

Trump has previously threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of TV networks when their news coverage was deemed unfavorable. He went after ABC after late night host Jimmy Kimmel was suspended in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death.

In a social media post in December, Trump said networks who are “almost 100% negative” in their coverage should have their broadcast licenses “terminated.”

Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr has limited authority to unilaterally revoke the licenses of the broadcast networks.

These licences are protected both by the Communications Act’s restrictions on how the FCC reviews licenses and the First Amendment.