Democrat Claims FCC Actions Prompt News Self-Censorship of Trump

Anna Gomez, the sole Democratic member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has accused the Trump administration of conducting a targeted campaign to censor Disney and its ABC network through a series of sweeping regulatory actions.

In a letter sent to Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro on May 11, 2026, Gomez characterized the administration’s approach as a strategic effort to pressure the media into submission.

What Disney and ABC are facing is not a series of coincidental regulatory actions but a sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control, carried out through the weaponization of the FCC’s authority as a federal regulator and aimed at pressuring a free and independent press and all media into submission.

Anna Gomez

The accusations center on several recent actions taken by the FCC under the leadership of Republican Chairman Brendan Carr, which Gomez argues are designed to prompt television networks to self-censor and reduce the intensity of their news coverage regarding President Trump.

Accelerated License Reviews

A primary point of contention is the FCC’s decision to move up the review of broadcast licenses for eight of Disney’s ABC stations. These licenses were not originally scheduled for review until October 2028.

Chairman Brendan Carr ordered the early review in April 2026. This action followed a joke made by ABC late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, which prompted calls from the White House for the comedian to be fired.

The timing and nature of the review are described as unusual, particularly given the historical rarity of such actions. According to FCC records, the commission has not revoked a broadcast license in more than four decades.

Equal Time Rule Investigations

The FCC is also investigating the ABC daytime talk show The View over potential violations of federal equal time rules for political candidates.

The probe began in February 2026 following an appearance on the program by James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the Senate. The FCC is examining whether the show failed to provide equivalent opportunities to opposing candidates.

This investigation follows a shift in how the FCC classifies certain programming. The commission stated that television talk shows are no longer considered bona fide news programs. Historically, bona fide news programs were exempt from the equal time rules that govern political candidate interviews.

By removing this exemption, the FCC has expanded the regulatory requirements for talk shows, making them subject to the same equal time mandates as other non-news broadcast content.

Gomez contends that these combined regulatory pressures—the threat of license reviews and the strict application of equal time rules—constitute a broader effort by the administration to control media narratives and intimidate independent press outlets.