President Donald Trump reignited his long-standing feud with the media this week, blasting ABC and NBC as “two of the absolute worst and most biased networks anywhere in the world” in a Truth Social tirade. This latest verbal assault, including demands to revoke their broadcast licenses, highlights Trump's ongoing battle against the traditional media landscape that he accuses of being part of the “Fake News complex.”
The 97% Bad Coverage Claim
In his post, Trump claimed that 97% of ABC and NBC’s coverage of his presidency was negative, a figure he insists is evidence of deliberate media bias. Though studies have suggested high levels of negative coverage by various organizations, Trump's specific statistic remains unverified.
Calls for FCC License Revocation
Furthermore, Trump called for the revocation of the networks’ broadcast licenses, arguing that they operate as extensions of the Democrat Party. However, his demands reflect a misunderstanding of broadcast laws, since local affiliate stations hold these licenses, not the networks themselves.
Crooked Journalism or Protected Speech?
By denouncing the networks as guilty of “crooked journalism,” Trump is pushing the boundaries of the relationship between governmental authority and press freedom. Legal experts agree that attempts to revoke licenses for political motives would face significant First Amendment challenges.
The Larger Media War
This confrontation is part of a larger cultural war involving Trump’s criticism of various media outlets, including CNN and The New York Times. His recent statements reflect a tactic aimed at energizing his base while challenging the role of media in shaping public perception.
