Trump threatens to revoke ABC and NBC broadcast licenses for not airing his election speech

Published Jul 17, 05:05 PM UTC

On July 16, 2026, President Donald Trump delivered a primetime address reiterating debunked claims about the 2020 election being stolen. Broadcast networks ABC and NBC declined to air the speech live, instead streaming it on their platforms, while CBS aired it with editorial caveats. Trump responded by threatening to revoke their broadcast licenses, claiming they use public airwaves without payment. The article explains that Trump's threats are legally meritless: networks do not hold broadcast licenses (their local affiliates do), and the FCC does not have authority to revoke licenses based on content. It also notes that previous presidents, including Joe Biden and Barack Obama, have had speeches declined by networks without such threats. The piece frames Trump's actions as authoritarian and legally unfounded.