Donald Trump doubles down on his arm-wrestling match against Disney

The war between the Trump administration and the media does not cease, and in recent days Disney is bearing the brunt of presidential fury. On April 28, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), the independent state agency that regulates over-the-air television, ordered a review of the broadcast licenses of the ABC network – under the corporate management of Walt Disney Company –, with the aim of investigating and considering the cessation of the medium's activity. All this while Trump continues to publicly criticize the network's late show host, Jimmy Kimmel, on social media.

Weeks after the president managed to shut down the corporation that supports public media thanks to an executive order – an act that jeopardized the survival of NPR radio and PBS television –, the FCC once again ignites controversy by issuing a threatening statement: “ABC is being investigated for possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and FCC rules, including the agency's prohibition on illegal discrimination. Specifically, FCC rules state that whenever the organization considers a license renewal application essential for the proper conduct of an investigation, it has the authority to request the early renewal of the station's licenses.” In other words, they do not specify the possible sin committed, but they reserve the power to subject the channel to an arbitrary review of its permits: the "non-discrimination" they refer to is what the MAGA environment perceives as biased coverage against their ideology.

of the chain, Jimmy Kimmel, to social networks.

Weeks after the president managed to shut down the corporation that supports public media thanks to an executive orderWhat role does Jimmy Kimmel play?

Amidst all this controversy, the figure of Jimmy Kimmel stands out, one of the presenters whose activity has been most censored and persecuted. Last September, ABC canceled Kimmel's show after receiving threats of sanctions from Carr, due to a joke about the man accused of the murder of Charlie Kirk. Despite officially withdrawing it indefinitely due to pressure from the companies managing a good number of the local stations associated with the network, the show returned to the lineup a week later, after a media response in favor of the presenter and his freedom of expression.

During the episode the Thursday before the license review order, Kimmel became a trending topic for a joke about the first lady, Melania Trump: “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.” The joke forced him to give explanations on his last show, indicating that it was a joke about the age difference between the president and Melania, after receiving a barrage of criticism on his social media. Two days later, both Melania and Donald Trump spoke out. The first lady, through her X profile, accused Kimmel – whom she calls a coward – of “wanting to divide the country” and “spreading hate,” and also accused ABC of protecting the presenter.

The president, through his social network, Truth Social, hinted at a direct relationship between the presenter's jokes and the assassination attempt at the correspondents' dinnerThe president, through his social network, Truth Social, hinted at a direct relationship between the comedian's jokes and ABC defends itself by accusing the government and the FCC

The ABC defends itself by accusing the government and the FCCThe response is just the beginning of the confrontation between ABC and the FCC, and the latter has now moved to question whether The View, one of ABC's longest-running morning talk shows in the country – and most critical of Trump –, respected the old federal rule that requires public broadcast entertainment programs to grant equal airtime to all political candidates running for the same office. The network called this requirement "unprecedented." "Some may not like certain opinions expressed on The View or similar programs. However, that dissatisfaction cannot justify the use of regulatory processes to restrict viewpoints," they added. Ultimately, ABC pointed to the agency for being tough on programs critical of the administration and not at all on radio programs hosted by conservatives Glenn Beck and Mark Levin.

Carr has strongly suggested that The View should not qualify for an exemption that equal time rules allow for so-called "good faith" news programs. The exemption has been applied to many talk shows over the years, but Carr has shown himself determined to radically restrict them. The View received its exemption from the FCC in 2002 and for twenty-four years had not been challenged and was considered in effect. One of the most significant aspects is that this entire regulatory attempt is happening just before the midterm elections.