Disney-owned ABC and the Trump regime are once again at odds, as the network 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 and Houston's KTRK have encouraged viewers to voice concerns during a public comment period ending July 29. This follows the FCC's April order for ABC to file early license renewals for eight local stations serving markets including San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

The FCC uses license renewals to determine whether stations serve the public interest. Free speech advocates argue the agency's move is designed to appease Trump by targeting a perceived political adversary. “FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s open support of Trump’s efforts to reshape and silence ABC taints any claim by his FCC to be impartial,” said Seth Stern of the Freedom of the Press Foundation.

In May, dissenting FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez warned Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro about the “weaponization of the FCC’s authority.” She called using local station licenses as leverage against a parent company “extraordinary and dangerous.” ABC argues the administration's actions violate its First Amendment rights.

The campaign comes as Trump escalated criticism of ABC News on Truth Social over a report on Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovations, calling it “FAKE NEWS” and threatening another lawsuit. He referenced a $16 million defamation settlement paid by ABC.

The Trump regime has long targeted ABC. In February, the FCC opened an investigation into The View over equal-time requirements. In March, Carr launched a probe into Disney's DEI practices, threatening license revocation. Critics accuse the FCC of selectively enforcing rules to serve Trump's political vendettas against perceived enemies in the media.

Source: www.aljazeera.com