Disney, ABC Sue FCC, Alleging Trump Administration Retaliation Over Broadcast Licenses
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Walt Disney Company, its broadcast network ABC, and several of its affiliated television stations have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), alleging that an unprecedented early license renewal process is a retaliatory measure orchestrated by the Trump administration. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, seeks to halt what the plaintiffs describe as a politically motivated attack on their broadcasting operations.
The legal action stems from an FCC order issued in April, which mandated that Disney’s eight owned-and-operated television stations file their broadcast license renewals significantly ahead of their scheduled dates. This directive, according to the lawsuit, comes amidst ongoing scrutiny of ABC’s popular talk show "The View," as well as a protracted investigation into Disney’s diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
Crucially, the FCC’s move followed a period of direct criticism from the White House and former President Donald Trump himself, particularly concerning late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, an ABC personality, for a joke made about then-First Lady Melania Trump.
The lawsuit specifically highlights Trump’s social media posts as evidence of the administration’s alleged vindictive intent. One such post, cited in the complaint, questioned whether broadcast licenses should "be terminated?" for late-night TV hosts whom Trump claimed were "almost 100% Negative to President Donald J. Trump."
"Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts," the lawsuit states, further asserting that "That campaign began in this Administration’s earliest days and has only intensified since."
Further exacerbating tensions, in September 2025, Disney briefly pulled "Jimmy Kimmel Live" off the air following pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. This incident occurred after Kimmel made comments regarding the motivations of the individual accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk and subsequently criticized Republicans’ responses to Kirk’s death.
Disney, in its legal filing, characterizes the FCC’s action as an "existential threat" to its broadcasting operations. Attorneys Beth Wilkinson and Paul Clement, representing Disney, state in the civil complaint: "The Commission issued an unprecedented order requiring the Stations to file early applications to renew their licenses—years before any of their licenses would have come up for renewal in the ordinary course and allowing only thirty days to file applications which ordinarily take months to prepare."
The lawsuit explicitly requests that the D.C. District Court "immediately" prevent the FCC "from taking or threatening to take any action" against Disney and ABC stations related to the early license renewal applications. ABC has also requested a "speedy hearing" and a temporary restraining order from the court.
The FCC has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.
In July, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly defended the Commission’s orders to Disney and ABC, asserting that they were motivated by a commitment to operating in "the public interest" rather than retaliation. "If broadcasters don’t like that, that’s okay," Carr told CNBC. "They can become a cable channel, they can become a podcast, they can stream online. But if you want to uniquely be on the public’s airwaves, you have to comply with those obligations."
Disney and ABC have consistently maintained that "The View" is a legitimate news program, citing a 2002 FCC staff ruling that supported this classification. However, Carr has dismissed this argument, noting that the 2002 ruling was a staff-level decision based on representations made at the time, questioning whether the program’s nature has remained consistent since then.
On Friday, newly-installed Disney chief executive officer Josh D’Amaro reiterated the company’s "principled" stance against the FCC’s actions. "We’re going to stand up to what we believe is journalistic integrity," D’Amaro told CNBC. "And we’re not going to be told how to run that side of our business," he added, referring to the ABC broadcast network.
D’Amaro concluded, "I like what we do. We tell incredible stories. I think we do it well. And we’re going to stay committed to that." The legal battle is expected to be closely watched, as it raises significant questions about the intersection of media regulation, free speech, and political influence.
