ABC ‘fighting back’, urging US public to defend stations amid FCC scrutiny
Key takeaways
- Trump has intensified criticism of ABC, alleging bias and threatening lawsuits over the network’s recent coverage.
- As part of the campaign, local stations, including New York’s WABC — the network’s largest owned-and-operated station — have encouraged viewers to voice their concerns during a public comment period that ends on July 29.
- That comes on the heels of a move in April when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered ABC to file early licence renewals for its eight local television stations.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Trump has intensified criticism of ABC, alleging bias and threatening lawsuits over the network’s recent coverage.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo. The administration of US President Donald Trump has called for an early review of broadcast licences for ABC's eight owned and operated stations [File: Heather Diehl / Getty Images via AFP]By Andy Hirschfeld Published On 24 Jun 202624 Jun 2026Disney-owned ABC and United States President Donald Trump are once again at odds, as the network has launched an on-air campaign urging viewers to support its local stations amid mounting pressure from the White House, a move applauded by press freedom advocates.
As part of the campaign, local stations, including New York’s WABC — the network’s largest owned-and-operated station — have encouraged viewers to voice their concerns during a public comment period that ends on July 29. Other stations, including Houston’s KTRK, have posted similar calls to action on their websites.