FCC calls for ‘early renewal’ of licenses held by ABC-TV stations
The Federal Communications Commission is insisting that ABC go through an “early renewal” process for the eight station licenses owned by the corporation, officially citing the broadcaster’s “diversity, equity, including” policies of discrimination.
However, the Washington Examiner pointed out the decision followed immediately on the heels of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump calling for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired following a controversial monologue on his show.
During his leftist rant, Kimmel referred to Melania Trump as an “expectant widow” and he later doubled down, claiming it was a joke about the president’s age, 79, as compared to that of his wife, 56.
However, the insult came only a matter of hours before there was an actual assassination attempt against the president at the White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington over the weekend.
“The FCC determines that calling in Disney’s ABC licenses for early renewal, at this time, under the Communications Act’s public interest standard is essential within the meaning of agency regulations,” said David Brown, an FCC official who submitted an official filing in the dispute. “Therefore, Disney’s ABC is hereby directed to file license renewals for all of their licensed TV stations within 30 days—in other words, by May 28, 2026.”
JUST IN: The FCC is preparing to CHALLENGE the licenses of ABC affiliates following Jimmy Kimmel calling First Lady Melania Trump an “expectant widow”
The review will begin as early as this afternoon.
Kimmel seemed SPOOKED last night over this, going on defense and making up… pic.twitter.com/gL9AYRxAYw
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 28, 2026
Jimmy Kimmel: “Our First Lady is here. Mrs. Trump… you have a glow like an expectant widow.” pic.twitter.com/LdloPzMyXr
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 26, 2026
Despite multiple demands, Disney and ABC have refused to shut down such comments, which many perceive as threats, regarding the president.
It was different last year when Kimmel made misleading comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and was taken off the air under pressure from broadcast station owners Nexstar and Sincalir.
FCC chief Brendan Carr said, “additional actions are appropriate at this time.”
Kimmell claimed there was no “call to assassination” in his comments.
And he accused Trump of being at fault for much of the “hateful and violent rhetoric” today.
However, it has been leftists and Democrats who have falsely described conservatives as “Nazis” and Trump as “Hitler” dozens, perhaps hundreds of times in recent years.
Disney claimed ABC and its stations hold “a long record” of complying with FCC rules.
WATCH: Jimmy Kimmel addresses Trump’s call for his firing over ‘expectant widow’ joke