Federal Communications Commission Orders Early Review of ABC Broadcast Licenses

The Federal Communications Commission ordered Disney's ABC stations to file early license renewals within 30 days. The Silicon Review reports on the unprecedented move following Trump's demand to fire Jimmy Kimmel over "expectant widow" remarks.

The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday ordered Disney's ABC television stations to submit early license renewal applications within 30 days, a highly unusual move that comes just one day after President Donald Trump called for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired.

The FCC order directs ABC's eight owned-and-operated stations including WABC in New York, KABC in Los Angeles, WLS in Chicago, and WPVI in Philadelphia to file for license renewal by May 28, 2026. These licenses were not scheduled for renewal until 2028.

The agency cited an ongoing investigation into Disney's diversity, equity and inclusion policies as the official reason for the early review. However, the timing less than 24 hours after Trump demanded Kimmel's firing has raised concerns about political retaliation.

The controversy stems from an April 23 episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live," where the comedian joked that First Lady Melania Trump had "a glow like an expectant widow."  Two days later, a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner attended by the Trumps.

Trump on Truth Social accused Kimmel of making a "despicable call to violence" and said he "should be immediately fired." First Lady Melania Trump called Kimmel's remarks "corrosive" and said they "deepen the political sickness within America." 

Kimmel responded on Monday night, explaining the joke was about the 23-year age gap between the 79-year-old president and the 56-year-old first lady. "It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination," he said, vowing: "Trump is allowed to say whatever he wants to say, as are you and as am I because under the First Amendment we have the right to free speech." 

The FCC has not revoked a major broadcaster's license in over 40 years. Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez called the move "unprecedented, unlawful, and going nowhere," urging Disney to "stand up and stand firm in defense of the First Amendment." 

Disney stated: "ABC and its stations have a long record of operating in full compliance with FCC rules. We are confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment." 

As the FCC orders an early review of ABC's broadcast licenses following Trump's demand to fire Jimmy Kimmel, The Silicon Review examines whether this unprecedented move will succeed or if the First Amendment will shield Disney from the first license revocation in over four decades.