U.S. President Donald Trump criticized several major television networks on Thursday after some declined to broadcast his primetime address on their main channels, accusing them of political bias and warning they could face the loss of their broadcast licenses.
The speech, delivered from the White House, focused largely on election security ahead of the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for later this year.
During the address, Trump alleged that broadcasters choosing not to air the speech were part of a coordinated effort against his administration.
“NBC and ABC fake news have both decided not to carry this speech,” Trump said. “Conduct like this should result in their licenses being revoked.”
Media law experts note that U.S. broadcasters enjoy broad protections under the First Amendment and retain editorial discretion over their programming decisions. While presidential addresses have often been carried live because of their public significance, networks are not legally required to broadcast them.
ABC News aired the speech on its ABC News Live streaming service and ABC News Radio but did not interrupt programming on its main broadcast network. NBC News carried the address on its streaming platform, NBC News NOW, rather than on its primary television network.
CNN also opted against carrying the speech on its main cable channel, instead making a live feed available through its website and subscription streaming service while covering key developments as news.
The streaming platforms generally attract significantly smaller audiences than the networks’ traditional television broadcasts.
During the address, Trump said he had declassified intelligence which he claimed showed Chinese interference in U.S. elections, reviving allegations about election security that remain disputed. U.S. intelligence agencies have previously concluded there was no evidence that China altered the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Before the speech, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president could also address developments involving Iran and the U.S. economy, arguing that the breadth of topics justified live television coverage.
Although Trump briefly discussed the conflict involving Iran and highlighted what he described as strong economic performance, most of his remarks centered on election integrity.
The president has repeatedly questioned the security of U.S. elections, continuing to argue that the 2020 election was improperly conducted despite courts and election officials rejecting claims of widespread fraud.
Some Democratic lawmakers had urged broadcasters not to air the speech live, arguing that it was likely to include claims that had previously been disproven.
CBS interrupted its regular programming to carry the address, although anchor Tony Dokoupil cautioned viewers beforehand that many of the president’s previous assertions on election fraud had been found to be inaccurate. The network later interrupted the speech to provide fact-checks.
Fox News carried the address live, with several local Fox affiliates also airing the speech.
The controversy comes as several major media organizations face heightened regulatory scrutiny.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is conducting inquiries involving ABC, including a review related to equal-time broadcasting rules following an interview with a Democratic Senate candidate. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has also launched an investigation into Comcast and NBC’s diversity policies.
Meanwhile, ownership changes within major media companies have added further attention to the relationship between broadcasters and the Trump administration. Paramount is undergoing a change in ownership, while Comcast has announced plans to separate NBCUniversal into a standalone company.
Speaking before the address, Carr said he believed broadcasters should provide Americans with access to presidential remarks carried over public airwaves, though he did not comment further after the networks made their programming decisions.
