US Regulator Reviews ABC Broadcasting License After Trump Criticizes Jimmy Kimmel Joke

US FCC Orders Early Review of Disney-Owned ABC Station Licences After Jimmy Kimmel Joke

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered an early review of the broadcast licences for eight local ABC television stations owned by Disney, following a controversy involving late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and First Lady Melania Trump. The decision, announced on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, accelerates a process that was not originally scheduled until at least 2028, raising concerns about potential political interference in media regulation.

Details of the FCC Order

The FCC, led by Trump-appointed chair Brendan Carr, directed Disney to file licence-renewal applications for all its licensed TV stations within 30 days. The review specifically targets eight ABC-owned stations: WABC-TV in New York, KABC-TV in Los Angeles, WLS-TV in Chicago, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, KTRK-TV in Houston, KGO-TV in San Francisco, WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV in Fresno. These stations were not due for renewal until between 2028 and 2031, making the FCC’s move highly unusual.

The agency stated it had been investigating Disney’s ABC stations for possible violations, including unlawful discrimination, though no specific evidence of wrongdoing was cited in the order. The FCC’s authority extends only to individual broadcast stations using public airwaves, not national networks like ABC itself. The review could theoretically result in the revocation of the stations’ licences, a step the FCC has not taken in over 40 years.

Controversy Over Jimmy Kimmel’s Joke

The FCC’s decision follows a public outcry from President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump over a joke made by Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night show. During a segment last week, Kimmel, portraying himself as the host of the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, addressed Melania Trump, saying she had “a glow like an expectant widow.” The remark was made two days before an alleged assassination attempt targeting Trump’s administration disrupted the event.

President Trump responded by calling for Kimmel’s firing, accusing the comedian of making a “despicable call to violence.” Melania Trump also issued a statement demanding that ABC “take a stand” against Kimmel. The White House later intensified its criticism, with communications director Steven Cheung describing Kimmel on social media as a “shit human” for refusing to apologize.

Kimmel defended the joke on his show, clarifying that it was a reference to the age difference between the president and first lady. “It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am,” Kimmel said. “It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination, and they know that.”

Disney’s Response and Industry Reactions

A Disney spokesperson told the BBC that ABC and its stations operate within FCC guidelines, emphasizing their long record of compliance and public-interest programming. “Our focus remains, as always, on serving viewers in the local communities where our stations operate,” the spokesperson said.

The FCC’s order has drawn sharp criticism from media advocates and Democratic officials. Democratic FCC commissioner Anna M. Gomez called the move “a political stunt” and “unprecedented, unlawful, and going nowhere,” urging companies to challenge it. The controversy has reignited debates over the FCC’s role in regulating broadcast content and the potential for political pressure to influence licensing decisions.

Broader Implications for Media Regulation

The FCC’s action marks a rare intervention in broadcast licensing, particularly in response to a comedian’s joke. While the agency has historically avoided revoking licences over content disputes, the early review process could set a precedent for future regulatory actions. Critics argue the move undermines press freedom and could chill satire, a cornerstone of late-night television.

The dispute also highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and media outlets perceived as critical of the president. The White House’s aggressive response to Kimmel’s joke has been compared to past conflicts involving late-night hosts and political figures, though the FCC’s involvement in this case is unprecedented in recent decades.

What Comes Next

Disney is expected to submit its licence-renewal applications within the 30-day deadline set by the FCC. The agency will then review whether the stations meet public-interest standards, a process that could take months. Legal challenges to the FCC’s order are likely, particularly given the lack of clear evidence of violations and the timing of the review.

For now, the affected ABC stations continue to operate normally, and Kimmel’s show remains on air. The outcome of the FCC’s review could have far-reaching consequences for broadcast regulation, media ownership, and the boundaries of political satire in the United States.