Disney and ABC have filed a lawsuit to halt the Trump administration’s push for an early licence renewal, claiming the move is an act of censorship.
The suit, filed on Tuesday, argues that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and its Chairman Brendan Carr are being pressured to renew broadcast licences years ahead of schedule, and that this pressure originates from President Donald Trump’s complaints about ABC’s coverage.
FCC Chairman Carr has stated that the renewal requests are rooted in public‑interest standards, not retaliation.
Early renewal orders are unprecedented, according to the plaintiffs; the FCC had not called for such an order for a single network’s stations in over 50 years.
The lawsuit cites Trump’s own social media posts, including an accusation that ABC’s coverage of him was “almost 100% negative” and a question about terminating their licences, which he answered affirmatively.
Disney and ABC gave the FCC only 30 days to file applications, a timeframe they say is “normally months to prepare” and is therefore rushed.
The plaintiffs are seeking a speedy hearing and a temporary restraining order, alleging that the FCC’s action is a retaliatory campaign against ABC for its editorial choices.
Background: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a former “warrior for free speech” under Trump, has had a contentious relationship with broadcasters, having threatened action against media outlets like ABC for not “pushing back” against comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks on the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
These tensions culminated in a lawsuit by Trump against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos, which was settled with a payment of $15 million to the president’s foundation and $1 million in legal fees.
