WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his lie that negative news coverage of him is “illegal” amid concerns about free speech following ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump was complaining about a lack of equality between his 2024 election win and the coverage he has gotten from media organizations.
“When 97 percent of the stories are bad about a person, it’s no longer free speech,” Trump told reporters. They’ll take a great story, and they will make it bad. See, I think that’s really illegal. Personally… You are getting free airwaves from the United States government, and you can’t have that.”
It is still unclear what statistics or laws, if any, he was referencing.
The President continued, going to his favorite talking point: blaming the Democrats.
“That’s no longer free speech. That’s just cheating, and they cheat. They become really members of the Democratic National Committee,” he said. “That’s what they are, the networks, in my opinion. They are just offshoots of the Democratic National Committee.”
Trump’s comments came days after Disney indefinitely suspended the late night host Jimmy Kimmel after Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Trump ally, suggested ABC should take action against Kimmel.
After Kimmel was suspended, Carr said “I don’t think this is the last shoe to drop” and suggested the FCC — an agency designed to act independently from the president — may target other shows, including ABC’s “The View.”
Trump’s remarks came less than 24 hours after he floated the idea of TV broadcasters losing their federal licenses over negative Trump coverage, lying that it is not allowed — which is not true.
“I mean, they’re getting a license. I would think maybe their license should be taken away. It will be up to Brendan Carr,” Trump said on Air Force One. “I think Brendan Carr is outstanding. He’s a patriot. He loves our country, and he’s a tough guy, so we’ll have to see.”
“All they do is hit Trump. They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that. They’re an arm of the Democrat Party,” he added.
House Democratic leaders, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, called on Carr to resign Thursday, accusing him of a “corrupt abuse of power.”
