Frank Nez 
On August 24, 2025, President Donald Trump unleashed a fiery late-night tirade on Truth Social, targeting ABC and NBC as “crooked” and “FAKE NEWS” networks, accusing them of delivering “97% bad stories” about him and threatening to have the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revoke their broadcast licenses.
The Daily Beast reported that Trump’s outburst, which included personal insults against ABC host Jonathan Karl’s appearance, was likely triggered by a Sunday interview on ABC’s This Week with former ally Chris Christie, who criticized Trump’s handling of classified information and the Justice Department’s raid on John Bolton’s home.
The remarks, part of Trump’s escalating feud with mainstream media, have raised alarms about press freedom, with critics labeling the threats as authoritarian while supporters defend them as a push against biased journalism.
Details of Trump’s Frustrations
In a series of Truth Social posts starting late Sunday night, Trump called ABC and NBC “two of the worst and most biased networks in history,” claiming they are an “arm of the Democrat Party” and a “threat to our Democracy.”
He wrote, “Why is it that ABC and NBC FAKE NEWS… aren’t paying Millions of Dollars a year in LICENSE FEES… They should lose their Licenses for their unfair coverage of Republicans and/or Conservatives,” adding, “Crooked ‘journalism’ should not be rewarded, it should be terminated!!!.”
Trump also mocked Jonathan Karl’s hair, stating, “What the ‘hell’ happened to Jonathan Karl’s hair? He looks absolutely terrible!” while boasting about his own popularity.
The rant followed an ABC This Week segment where Christie, a former New Jersey governor, discussed the FBI’s August 22 raid on John Bolton’s home, accusing Trump of hypocrisy over classified information, given his own Mar-a-Lago document case, per The Daily Beast.
Christie stated, “Donald Trump sees himself as the person who gets to decide everything… He absolutely rejects the idea that there should be separation between criminal investigations and the politically elected leader.”
Trump’s FBI Director, Kash Patel, posted on X during the raid, “No one is above the law,” amplifying the administration’s narrative.
Context of Trump’s Media Feud
Trump’s threats build on his history of targeting media outlets.
In 2024, he secured a $15 million defamation settlement from ABC and a $16 million settlement from CBS’s parent company, Paramount, over an edited 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.
He also defunded PBS and NPR, calling them “corrosive to journalistic independence.”
His FCC chair, Brendan Carr, has revived bias complaints against ABC, NBC, and CBS, while sparing Fox News, per The Independent.
Carr previously accused Comcast of “news distortion” over MSNBC’s coverage of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation, suggesting license violations.
Legal experts note that national networks like ABC and NBC do not hold FCC licenses; their local affiliates do, making Trump’s threats legally dubious, according to Fox News.
A Media Research Center study cited by Trump claimed 92% of ABC, NBC, and CBS coverage from January to April 2025 was negative, though he inflated this to 97%.
Critics argue Trump’s rhetoric violates First Amendment protections, with @PolarBarrett on X stating it aims to “criminalize protected speech.”
Public and Political Reactions
The outburst sparked sharp reactions.
On X, @LeBarkNews posted on August 24, “Trump blasts ABC & NBC as ‘FAKE NEWS,’ demanding they lose their licenses or pay millions,” reflecting MAGA support.
Conversely, @NyraKraal called it a “shocking free speech attack.”
@MarkmBha quoted Trump’s claim that the networks are a “threat to democracy.”
Former ABC reporter Terry Moran, who left after an anti-Trump rant, told The Bulwark the threats signal a chilling effect on journalism.
Democrats condemned the remarks.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Trump’s DOJ actions a “conflict of interest,” referencing its handling of cases like Ghislaine Maxwell’s.
Republicans Against Trump wrote on X, “Trump wants the FCC to revoke ABC and NBC licenses because they don’t praise him enough,” labeling it authoritarian, per Irish Star.
However, Trump’s base rallied, with @DallasExpress praising his call to address “media fairness.”
What This Means For Trump’s Presidency
With Trump’s approval rating at 39% per an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, his media attacks risk alienating moderates while energizing supporters, according to Newsweek.
His broader agenda, including armed National Guard deployments in D.C. and flag-burning deportation orders, faces legal challenges for overreach.
Trump’s Monday claim that “you have to have a free press” or “you don’t have a country” contradicted his Sunday post, drawing accusations of hypocrisy, per Mediaite.
As the 2026 midterms loom, his threats against ABC and NBC, coupled with DOJ actions like the Bolton raid, could intensify debates over press freedom and executive power, shaping his administration’s legacy.
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