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MaddowBlog--'Not allowed': Trump makes ridiculous new claims about media critics and the free press
The president suggested that government might revoke the licenses of broadcast networks that are “against” him — before he went just a bit further.
Trump’s comments this afternoon about revoking the broadcast licenses of networks that displease him were, alas, familiar.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-09-18T20:14:02.698Z
But his comments about what “evening shows†are “allowed†to say was actually new — and ridiculous. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/not-allowed-trump-makes-ridiculous-new-claims-media-critics-free-press-rcna232231
On his way back from his trip to the U.K., he did the opposite. CNBC reported:
......For that matter, while Trump’s rhetoric about revoking the broadcast licenses of networks that displease him was certainly radical, it iss also familiar: He’s peddled this same line for roughly eight years.
Part of the president’s new pitch, however, was new. From the same Q&A:
To the extent that reality still has any meaning, the First Amendment also applies to “evening shows.” They are “allowed” to criticize the president, praise him or some combination therein, at ratios of their choosing, with whichever guests they choose
I can say this with confidence because we still live in a free country, whether the president understands this or not.
President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that the federal government might revoke the licenses of broadcast television networks that are ‘against’ him. Trump’s comment came a day after ABC suspended airing the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ show because of comments its host made linking the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to Trump’s MAGA movement.
......For that matter, while Trump’s rhetoric about revoking the broadcast licenses of networks that displease him was certainly radical, it iss also familiar: He’s peddled this same line for roughly eight years.
Part of the president’s new pitch, however, was new. From the same Q&A:
When you have a network and you have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump. That’s all they do. If you go back, I guess they haven’t had a conservative on in years or something somebody said. But when you go back, take a look, all they do is hit Trump. They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that. They’re an arm of the Democrat [sic] Party.
To the extent that reality still has any meaning, the First Amendment also applies to “evening shows.” They are “allowed” to criticize the president, praise him or some combination therein, at ratios of their choosing, with whichever guests they choose
I can say this with confidence because we still live in a free country, whether the president understands this or not.