On April 28, Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) directed Disney’s eight television stations to renew their broadcast license on an early basis.
While the FCC intended to force Disney into renewing their licenses early because of alleged diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, which are not illegal, the move was expedited because First Lady Melania Trump was offended by a joke made by comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
Trump’s White House falsley associated the joke, which described Melania as an “expectant widow,” with the attempt on Trump’s life during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner; the joke was made two days before the assassination attempt, and did not invoke violence. The joke was merely about the large age difference between Trump and his wife.
This marks yet another attack on the First Amendment by the Trump administration.
Free Press, a progressive advocacy group, accused FCC Chairman Brendan Carr of “using his position of power to silence dissent at the president’s beck and call. This extraordinary and unconstitutional attack on the media is nothing more than another favor to the most fragile president in U.S. history.”
NBC News
