FCC Launches Review Of 8 ABC Stations’ Licenses After Kimmel’s Melania Trump Joke
The FCC has initiated a review of eight ABC stations' broadcast licenses following a controversial joke made by Jimmy Kimmel about First Lady Melania Trump. The review is part of an ongoing investigation into Disney's diversity practices and requires the company to file license renewals by May 28. This action comes shortly after President Trump called for Kimmel's firing over the remarks, which Kimmel clarified were not intended as a threat.
- ▪The FCC is reviewing Disney's broadcast licenses for eight ABC stations across major U.S. markets.
- ▪Disney must submit license renewals for its ABC TV stations by May 28 as part of the FCC's order.
- ▪The review follows a joke by Jimmy Kimmel that drew criticism from Melania Trump and President Trump.
5 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 5 hours. All of the coverage we found sits in one bucket: centre. That one-sidedness is itself worth noticing.
- ▪ US FCC reviewing Disney's ABC station licenses after Jimmy Kimmel joke - Reuters — Google News
- ▪ Trump’s FCC orders review of ABC licences after Kimmel’s ‘expectant widow’ joke — South China Morning Post
- ▪ FCC orders review of Disney’s licenses after Trump’s Kimmel criticism — Business
- ▪ FCC prepares review of Disney’s TV licenses, Semafor reports — All News
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| Original publisher | Forbes — Business |
| Canonical URL | https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/04/28/fcc-launches-review-of-8-abc-stations-licenses-after-kimmels-melania-trump-joke/ |
| Publication time | Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:48:10 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-04-28T20:14:39.778Z |
| Last seen | 2026-04-28T20:14:39.778Z |
| Headline source | Publisher (no WeSearch rewrite) |
| Excerpt source | publisher body |
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| Cluster | 7Z0ominJWvKT · 5 stories |
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BreakingBusinessFCC Launches Review Of 8 ABC Stations’ Licenses After Kimmel’s Melania Trump JokeByAntonio Pequeño IV,Forbes Staff. Pequeño is a breaking news reporter who covers tech and more.Follow AuthorApr 28, 2026, 03:48pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ToplineThe Federal Communications Commission filed an order Tuesday to review Disney’s ABC broadcast licenses, pressing the media conglomerate after First Lady Melania Trump blasted a joke made by late night host Jimmy Kimmel in which he said the first lady had “a glow like an expectant widow” days before a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.Kimmel said the joke he made about Trump concerned the president's age.Photo by Randy…
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