Date: July 30, 2025
Byline: Investigative Desk
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. The broadside, which included demands that the networks’ broadcast licenses be revoked, is the latest in a series of escalating attacks Trump has leveled at traditional media outlets as he positions himself against what he calls the “Fake News complex.”
I. 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 described as evidence of deliberate bias. While studies from the Media Research Center have suggested high levels of negative coverage, independent media monitors have not verified Trump’s 97% statistic. The claim itself echoes a central theme of Trump’s media strategy: portraying himself as a victim of a press establishment aligned with Democrats, while leveraging those attacks to rally his base.
II. CALLS FOR FCC LICENSE REVOCATION
Trump escalated his attack by calling for the revocation of ABC and NBC’s broadcast licenses, writing: “They are simply an arm of the Democrat Party and should, according to many, have their licenses revoked by the FCC.” He argued that networks should pay “millions of dollars a year” for use of what he described as “the most valuable airwaves anywhere at anytime.” However, Trump’s demands reveal a misunderstanding of broadcast law where national networks don’t hold FCC licenses themselves; instead, local affiliates do.
III. CROOKED JOURNALISM OR PROTECTED SPEECH?
By labeling network coverage as “crooked journalism” and urging regulatory punishment, Trump is pushing the boundaries of a fundamental democratic tension: the role of government power in relation to press freedom. Attempts to revoke licenses for political reasons would likely face insurmountable First Amendment challenges, with Trump's critics arguing this rhetoric can lead to authoritarianism.
IV. THE LARGER MEDIA WAR
This clash is not isolated; Trump has also attacked CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, branding them “enemies of the people.” His latest escalation against ABC and NBC comes amid renewed Republican calls to scrutinize big media’s role in shaping public opinion. Despite the challenges his demands face, Trump’s statements serve as a calculated act of political theater, energizing his supporters while applying pressure on powerful media entities.
Byline: Investigative Desk
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. The broadside, which included demands that the networks’ broadcast licenses be revoked, is the latest in a series of escalating attacks Trump has leveled at traditional media outlets as he positions himself against what he calls the “Fake News complex.”
I. 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 described as evidence of deliberate bias. While studies from the Media Research Center have suggested high levels of negative coverage, independent media monitors have not verified Trump’s 97% statistic. The claim itself echoes a central theme of Trump’s media strategy: portraying himself as a victim of a press establishment aligned with Democrats, while leveraging those attacks to rally his base.
II. CALLS FOR FCC LICENSE REVOCATION
Trump escalated his attack by calling for the revocation of ABC and NBC’s broadcast licenses, writing: “They are simply an arm of the Democrat Party and should, according to many, have their licenses revoked by the FCC.” He argued that networks should pay “millions of dollars a year” for use of what he described as “the most valuable airwaves anywhere at anytime.” However, Trump’s demands reveal a misunderstanding of broadcast law where national networks don’t hold FCC licenses themselves; instead, local affiliates do.
III. CROOKED JOURNALISM OR PROTECTED SPEECH?
By labeling network coverage as “crooked journalism” and urging regulatory punishment, Trump is pushing the boundaries of a fundamental democratic tension: the role of government power in relation to press freedom. Attempts to revoke licenses for political reasons would likely face insurmountable First Amendment challenges, with Trump's critics arguing this rhetoric can lead to authoritarianism.
IV. THE LARGER MEDIA WAR
This clash is not isolated; Trump has also attacked CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, branding them “enemies of the people.” His latest escalation against ABC and NBC comes amid renewed Republican calls to scrutinize big media’s role in shaping public opinion. Despite the challenges his demands face, Trump’s statements serve as a calculated act of political theater, energizing his supporters while applying pressure on powerful media entities.
