Trump says TV networks against him should ‘maybe’ lose licence: ‘They give me only bad publicity’ | World News

Trump said that although “networks were 97 per cent against” him, he still won the federal elections “easily.” (AP Photo)

US President Donald Trump has suggested that television broadcasters critical of him should “maybe” lose their licences, after ABC suspended comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show over comments about the killing of conservative activ Charlie Kirk.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday, as he returned from a state visit to the UK, Trump said: “I have read someplace that the networks were 97 per cent against me, again, 97 per cent, and yet I won and easily, all seven swing states [in last year’s election].”
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He added, according to BBC, “They give me only bad publicity, press. I mean, they’re getting a licence. I would think maybe their licence should be taken away.”

Obama warns of free speech threat

Former US President Barack Obama criticised the suspension, warning it showed a “new and dangerous level” of government coercion, reported Reuters.

After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current adminration has taken it to a new and dangerous level routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like. https://t.co/uts7JpJZzN— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 18, 2025 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

“After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current adminration has taken it to a new and dangerous level routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like,” Obama said in a statement shared on X.

Writers’ and actors’ unions, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union, also condemned the targeting of Kimmel, calling it an unconstitutional attack on free speech rights. Rival late-night hosts including Stephen Colbert rallied behind Kimmel, calling the suspension “blatant censorship,” reported BBC.

Why was Kimmel suspended?

ABC, owned Disney, announced on Wednesday that it was indefinitely pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! off air after backlash from conservative groups and pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Kimmel, 57, had criticised Trump and his supporters for using Kirk’s assassination to “score political points.” He also mocked Trump’s reaction to the death, reported Reuters: “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”

His remarks prompted FCC Chair Brendan Carr to threaten an investigation.

Nexstar and Sinclair, two of the largest owners of ABC-affiliated stations, announced they would stop broadcasting Kimmel’s show. Hours later, ABC suspended the programme indefinitely.

(With inputs from Reuters, BBC, AP)