Anna Gomez, the FCC's only Democrat, told Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro that the Trump administration is using the agency to pressure Disney and ABC into submission through coordinated regulatory action.
Eight ABC station licenses were put under an unusual early review last month even though they were not due until October 2028, after a Jimmy Kimmel joke prompted White House calls for the host to be fired.
Brendan Carr has also pursued ABC's "The View," with the FCC saying in February the program may have violated equal-time rules after an appearance by Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.
Gomez tied the pressure campaign to Trump's broader attacks on ABC, including his November demand to revoke its licenses and Disney's December 2024 $15 million settlement with Trump over George Stephanopoulos' on-air comments.
How will heightened government oversight of broadcasters change what appears on television?
Could this legal fight permanently redefine the FCC's power to regulate media content?
Are broadcasters being forced to choose between free speech and their operating licenses?
FCC vs. Disney/ABC: The $16 Million Settlements, Equal-Time Rule, and the 2026 Constitutional Showdown Over Press Freedom
Overview
In May 2026, the FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, sharply increased its scrutiny of ABC, focusing on its talk show 'The View' and escalating regulatory pressure on the network and its parent company, Disney. This led ABC to shift from its previous approach—such as settling a defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump in 2024—to launching an aggressive legal defense. ABC’s new strategy included filing a direct challenge to federal oversight through its Houston affiliate and enlisting prominent legal expert Paul Clement. This confrontation marks a turning point in the ongoing battle over government regulation and media independence.