By Tasnim Oyshi
Staff Writer
The Federal Communications Commission ordered an early review of ABC’s eight local broadcasting licenses on April 28. While they were initially planned to be reviewed between 2028 and 2031, ABC’s parent company, Disney, was given a 30-day deadline to submit the renewals.
This decision was announced following a joke Jimmy Kimmel made about first lady Melania Trump. Two days ahead of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which broke a longstanding tradition of including a comedian, Kimmel held a parody dinner on his show. During a mock roast, Kimmel joked, “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”
During the actual Dinner on April 25, a shooter broke into the White House with a shotgun, handgun and knives. He opened fire multiple times before he was tacked to the ground. Now identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, who is facing charges of attempted assassination, two weapons charges and more to come, according to the Independent.
In an X post on April 27, the first lady called Kimmel’s segment “hateful and violent,” while asking for ABC to take a stand, insinuating that he should be fired. Meanwhile, President Trump took to Truth Social the same day to voice his opinion on Kimmel’s joke, particularly after Allen’s break-in.
“I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale,” he wrote. “Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC.”
“It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am. It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination,” Kimmel said during his monologue on April 27, adding that he has been vocal about his stance against gun violence in the past.
Since then, people have begun to speculate that Kimmel’s joke is the reason for FCC’s unexpectedly early review, especially considering that current FCC Chairman Brendan Carr was appointed by the president. According to the Guardian, Carr claims the purpose of the review is to investigate Disney’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, which has been an ongoing effort of his since March 2025.
According to CNBC, a statement from a Disney spokesperson stated, “We are confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels.”
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the only Democrat on the Commission at the moment, stated in an X post on April 28, “This is unprecedented, unlawful, and going nowhere. This political stunt won't stick. Companies should challenge it head-on. The First Amendment is on their side.”
According to NBC News, various First Amendment advocates have come out against the FCC order. Members of organizations such as Reporters Without Borders, PEN America, The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and more have spoken out.
“The FCC may claim these actions are based on DEI policies and have nothing to do with Jimmy Kimmel, but its timing makes it clear these justifications are a fig leaf,” wrote Foundation for (FIRE) in an X post. Disney has until May 28 to file for ABC’s licences renewals.
