President Donald Trump once again finds himself at the center of a heated media controversy, this time taking direct aim at major television networks NBC and ABC and their on-air personalities. On Sunday, October 5, 2025, Trump, now 79, unleashed a barrage of criticism on his social media platform Truth Social, targeting MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton and the networks’ parent companies. The episode underscores ongoing tensions between the former president and mainstream media, raising questions about freedom of the press, political influence over federal agencies, and the boundaries of on-air commentary.
Trump’s latest outburst followed criticism from Sharpton’s MSNBC show, PoliticsNation, earlier that day. During the broadcast, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal accused Trump of “reckless and illegal” use of the National Guard in Portland and warned it “should strike fear in every American,” according to The Daily Beast. This criticism appeared to spark Trump’s online tirade, in which he dredged up his decades-long acquaintance with Sharpton. “I knew Al Sharpton for many years, not that it matters, but he was a major ‘TRUMP’ fan,” Trump wrote, posting a vintage photo of the two. “He’d ask me to go to his fake Rallies all the time, because I brought BIG Crowds, and he couldn’t get anybody to come without me.”
Trump didn’t stop there. He turned his attention to Brian Roberts, the billionaire CEO of Comcast, which owns NBC. Trump accused Roberts of keeping Sharpton on “one of the Lowest Rated Shows in Television History,” referring to PoliticsNation, which has reportedly seen ratings peak at around 450,000 viewers in August 2025. “Roberts is afraid to take him off because it wouldn’t be ‘Politically Correct,’” Trump charged, before suggesting that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should investigate NBC’s license. “This is just one of the many reasons that the Federal Communications Commission should look into the license of NBC, which shows almost exclusively positive Democrat content,” he wrote.
Trump’s grievances extended to ABC, which he accused of similar bias. “Likewise, ABC Fake News — About the same thing, 97% negative to Republicans!” he posted, echoing a familiar refrain about media hostility toward his party. These statements were not isolated; in August 2025, Trump had already labeled NBC and ABC as “two of the worst and most biased networks in history” and argued that “SHOULD, ACCORDING TO MANY, HAVE THEIR LICENSES REVOKED BY THE FCC.” As he put it, “I would be totally in favor of that because they are so biased and untruthful,” calling them “an actual threat to our Democracy!!!”
Trump’s focus on the FCC is notable, given that current FCC Chairman Brendan Carr was appointed to his post by Trump himself. In previous Truth Social posts, Trump urged Carr to investigate what he sees as anti-Republican bias at the major networks. The relationship between the White House and the FCC, traditionally an independent regulatory body, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate about media oversight and political pressure.
Sharpton, for his part, has not shied away from criticizing Trump. In a June 2024 appearance on MSNBC, Sharpton remarked on his long history with the former president, saying, “I’ve never seen a Black employee in Trump’s office, not one. I used to say, going up Trump Towers is like going up the Rocky Mountains. The higher you got, the whiter it got.” The two men’s relationship—once cordial enough to share event stages in the 1980s—has clearly soured, and their public barbs reflect a broader cultural and political divide.
The controversy did not end with Sharpton. In September 2025, the FCC and its chairman, Brendan Carr, became embroiled in another high-profile clash with ABC. Carr publicly criticized late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for comments made about the death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, calling Kimmel’s remarks “the sickest conduct possible.” The backlash resulted in Jimmy Kimmel Live! being temporarily pulled from the air—an extraordinary move for a major network program.
Trump quickly celebrated the decision on Truth Social, posting, “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.” The show’s removal, though brief, was notable for its rarity and for the questions it raised about the limits of acceptable speech on television. Kimmel returned to air on September 23, 2025, less than a week later, and used his first show back to address the controversy head-on. He referenced Trump’s threats to sue ABC for reinstating the program, saying, “You hear that? There’s the threat again. This time, straight from FCC Biscuit’s mouth.”
These recent events have reignited a perennial debate about the role of government in regulating broadcast media. Trump’s supporters argue that networks like NBC and ABC have long engaged in unfair coverage, and that regulatory scrutiny is overdue. They point to what they see as a pattern of negative reporting on Republican politicians and causes, arguing that the public is being misled and that the networks are no longer fulfilling their duty to provide balanced information.
On the other side, critics of Trump’s approach warn of dangerous overreach. They argue that using the FCC as a tool to punish networks for perceived political bias sets a troubling precedent and threatens the independence of the press. Free speech advocates have expressed alarm at the idea of revoking broadcast licenses based on content, warning that it could chill dissent and undermine democratic norms. Media watchdogs have also noted that while network newsrooms may have their own editorial stances, the diversity of voices and opinions across cable and broadcast television remains robust.
The FCC itself has historically been cautious about intervening in content disputes, focusing instead on technical standards and public interest obligations. While the agency has the authority to review broadcast licenses, such actions are rare and typically reserved for clear violations of the law, such as indecency or fraud. Calls to revoke licenses over political content have generally been dismissed as outside the FCC’s remit.
As for the networks, both NBC and ABC have declined to comment publicly on Trump’s latest threats. Sharpton and his representatives have also remained silent in the immediate aftermath. The networks’ decision to refrain from public engagement may reflect a desire to avoid further escalation, or simply a calculation that Trump’s threats—while headline-grabbing—are unlikely to result in regulatory action.
Meanwhile, the broader conversation about media bias, political power, and the responsibilities of broadcasters shows no sign of abating. With the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon and Trump’s political future still a subject of speculation, the stakes for both media companies and their critics remain high. For viewers, the drama playing out on screen and online is a reminder that the battle over who gets to shape the national conversation is as fierce as ever.
In the end, the collision of politics and media regulation continues to test the boundaries of free expression and the role of government oversight, leaving Americans to ponder where the line should be drawn—and who gets to draw it.
