Trump Threatens to Revoke Broadcast Licenses After ABC and NBC Decline to Air Prime-Time Speech

Jul 16, 2026

On July 16, 2026, President Donald Trump threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of ABC and NBC after the networks declined to air his prime-time address live on their primary channels. Trump accused the networks of participating in a "plot" to hide election fraud. While Fox News carried the speech in full, CBS and other outlets cut away to fact-check Trump's claims. The incident highlights escalating tensions as the FCC, led by Trump ally Brendan Carr, conducts active regulatory reviews of ABC and NBC.

Network broadcast coverage decisions

▪ABC, NBC, and CNN did not broadcast President Donald Trump's prime-time address live on their primary television channels on July 16, 2026.
▪Fox News and the Fox broadcast network carried President Donald Trump's July 16, 2026, speech live in its entirety.
▪CBS preempted its regular programming to air portions of President Donald Trump's July 16, 2026, speech live before cutting away for analysis and fact-checking.
▪ABC and NBC carried President Donald Trump's July 16, 2026, speech live on their respective streaming platforms, ABC News Live and NBC News NOW.

Trump license revocation threats

▪President Donald Trump stated during his July 16, 2026, address that ABC and NBC should have their broadcast licenses revoked for declining to air his speech live.
▪President Donald Trump accused television networks that did not air his July 16, 2026, speech live of being engaged in a "plot" to continue election fraud.

Election security declassified intelligence

▪A United States intelligence assessment found no evidence that the Chinese government altered the 2020 presidential election vote.
▪President Donald Trump declassified intelligence during his July 16, 2026, speech that he claimed showed Chinese interference in United States elections.

Democratic opposition to airing

▪Some Democrats, including United States Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, urged television networks not to broadcast President Donald Trump's July 16, 2026, address.
▪Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr stated on July 15, 2026, that broadcast networks should air President Donald Trump's remarks.

FCC regulatory pressure on networks

▪Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr is investigating Comcast and its NBC unit over its diversity practices.
▪The Federal Communications Commission is currently conducting an early license review of eight ABC-owned television stations.

Paramount Warner Bros acquisition

▪The United States Justice Department's Antitrust Division approved Paramount Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery in June 2026.
▪Paramount Skydance is awaiting Federal Communications Commission approval for its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.