Former President Donald Trump has once again thrust himself into the center of the media spotlight, this time by calling for the revocation of television broadcast licenses for networks and late-night shows he claims are overwhelmingly negative about him, the MAGA movement, and the Republican Party. Early on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, Trump took to Truth Social with a flurry of posts that blended outrage, pointed criticism, and a touch of holiday spirit, setting off a heated debate about free speech, government power, and the future of American broadcasting.
Trump’s most pointed comments targeted Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show on CBS. In a scathing post, Trump labeled Colbert a “pathetic disaster” and a "pathetic trainwreck, with no talent or anything else necessary for show business success." He didn’t stop there—Trump urged CBS to “put him to sleep,” going so far as to say, “Stephen is running on hatred and fumes ~ A dead man walking! CBS should, 'put him to sleep,' NOW, it is the humanitarian thing to do!” according to Salon. The timing of Trump’s remarks was notable: CBS had already announced the end of Colbert’s show, slated for May 2026, a move linked by Salon to the network’s parent company seeking approval from the Trump administration for a major merger with Skydance.
But it wasn’t just Colbert in Trump’s crosshairs. The former president broadened his criticism to late-night hosts across CBS, ABC, and NBC, questioning which network had the “worst” late-night host. He accused them all of sharing “high salaries,” a “lack of talent,” and “very low ratings.” Trump’s frustration with negative media coverage is nothing new—he has voiced similar sentiments throughout his political career, but his latest posts took on a sharper edge, explicitly calling on authorities to pull the plug on what he sees as unfair broadcasters.
“If network news and their late-night shows are almost entirely negative... shouldn’t their valuable broadcast licenses be rescinded? I say yes!” Trump wrote, as reported by CBS. He has previously floated the idea of revoking broadcast licenses, but this time he named a specific official: Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In September 2025, Trump asserted that Carr should take on the responsibility of revoking licenses from networks with negative coverage.
The FCC, the government body responsible for issuing eight-year licenses to individual broadcasting stations, is at the heart of this controversy. Many of these stations are owned by major networks, but the FCC’s authority is not as sweeping as Trump suggests. According to CBS, the FCC’s own website makes it clear that broadcasters—not the FCC or any other government agency—are responsible for the content they air. Moreover, both the First Amendment and the Communications Act explicitly prohibit the FCC from censoring broadcast material.
Brendan Carr, for his part, has been drawn into the fray. He recently testified before the Senate, stating that the FCC “is not formally an independent agency.” In a move that raised eyebrows, the term “independent” was reportedly removed from the FCC’s website during Carr’s testimony. The implications of this change remain unclear, but it has added another layer of intrigue to the ongoing debate over the FCC’s role and autonomy.
The tension between Trump and the media was further inflamed by an incident in September 2025 involving Jimmy Kimmel, host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC. The show was suspended after Kimmel delivered a monologue commenting on the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During his segment, Kimmel speculated about the political affiliation of the alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, and accused the “MAGA crowd” of trying to portray Robinson as anything but “one of their own” for political gain. The remarks sparked a strong response from FCC Chairman Carr, who described Kimmel’s comments as “the most sickening behavior possible” and suggested that the FCC might consider reviewing or revoking ABC affiliates’ licenses as a punitive measure.
These events have fueled a broader conversation about the boundaries of free speech, the role of regulatory agencies, and the influence of political leaders over the media. Trump’s critics argue that his calls to revoke broadcast licenses are an attack on the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of the press. They point to the FCC’s clear mandate against censorship and warn that any move to punish networks for critical coverage would set a dangerous precedent.
Supporters of Trump, however, see things differently. They argue that the mainstream media and late-night shows have become little more than partisan echo chambers, relentlessly negative toward Trump and the Republican Party. For them, Trump’s willingness to challenge the media establishment is a welcome change, and they believe that holding broadcasters accountable for perceived bias is not only justified but necessary for a healthy democracy.
Meanwhile, some observers worry about the potential for political interference in the operations of the FCC. The recent removal of the word “independent” from the agency’s website has raised concerns about its ability to act as a neutral arbiter in disputes between the government and the media. As CBS reports, the FCC’s foundational documents are designed to insulate it from political pressure, but the current climate has made those protections feel increasingly fragile.
Salon notes that CBS, perhaps in an effort to curry favor with the Trump administration following its merger with Skydance, has installed conservative columnist Bari Weiss as the head of its news division. Whether this move will change Trump’s perception of the network remains to be seen—so far, he has continued to highlight what he sees as negative coverage and to threaten networks with the loss of their licenses.
In the midst of this highly charged atmosphere, Trump ended his Christmas Eve posts with an unexpected twist, signing off with a cheerful “Merry Christmas!” The juxtaposition of holiday wishes and threats against the media seemed to encapsulate the former president’s unique approach to public discourse: combative, unpredictable, and always attention-grabbing.
As the debate over media bias, regulatory power, and political influence rages on, one thing is clear—Trump’s latest salvo has ensured that the relationship between the White House, the FCC, and America’s broadcasters will remain a hot topic well into the new year. The outcome of this struggle could have profound implications for the future of free speech and the role of government in the nation’s media landscape.
For now, network executives, government officials, and viewers alike are watching closely, wondering just how far this battle over broadcast licenses—and the larger fight over the soul of American media—will go.
