The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered an early review of television broadcast licences held by stations operated by The Walt Disney Company following remarks by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel about Melania Trump.

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The move comes days after US President Donald Trump publicly urged ABC — owned by Disney — to remove Kimmel from the air over a joke made shortly before a shooting incident at a Washington gala attended by the president and first lady.

The FCC said on Tuesday it had already been examining Disney’s ABC stations for possible regulatory breaches, including allegations of unlawful discrimination.

A spokesperson for Disney told the BBC that ABC and its affiliated stations operate within FCC guidelines and serve the public interest.

Joke sparks political backlash

The controversy centres on a comment Kimmel made about Melania Trump during his late-night programme. The comedian said the first lady had the glow of an “expectant widow”.

The remark was made days before a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint at a gala attended by the Trumps.

President Trump criticised the joke earlier this week, describing it as a “call to violence”. Melania Trump also condemned the comments, saying they contributed to what she called “the political sickness within America”.

Kimmel rejected the accusation, saying his remarks were not intended to encourage violence.

“I’ve been very vocal for many years speaking out against gun violence in particular,” he said.

Shooting at Washington gala

The dispute follows a security incident at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner held at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night.

Authorities said a suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, fired shots near a security checkpoint outside the venue.

The president and first lady were evacuated unharmed.

Officials said Allen was subdued by security personnel near a staircase leading to a ballroom where more than 2,000 guests — including journalists, government officials and public figures — had gathered.

He has since been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.

Rare regulatory step

Legal experts say the FCC’s decision to bring forward a review of Disney’s broadcast licences is unusual.

Jeffrey Schneider, a professor at the USC Gould School of Law, said early licence reviews have occurred before but typically involve technical failures or fraudulent conduct.

He said the threshold for revoking broadcast licences is high, requiring regulators to demonstrate “intentional and repeated violations” of federal rules.

Schneider said it was unlikely that Disney would ultimately lose its licences, noting the burden of proof lies with the regulator.

Previous tensions

Kimmel has previously faced backlash for political remarks made on his programme.

Last September he was temporarily taken off air after comments about the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. During a monologue, Kimmel said supporters of Trump — whom he referred to as the “Maga gang” — were attempting to use the killing to gain political advantage.

His show returned to air a week later.

The FCC, established in 1934, regulates radio and television broadcasting in the United States. The agency oversees licensing of frequencies and enforces rules covering sponsorship disclosures, emergency broadcasts and standards related to obscenity and decency.

President Trump has previously suggested that television networks providing him with what he calls “bad publicity” should risk losing their licences, raising questions about how much authority the administration has over broadcasters.

Last year, FCC chairman Brendan Carr notified Disney that regulators were investigating the company’s diversity and inclusion programmes amid concerns they might conflict with federal regulations.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 29 April 2026

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It was, perhaps, a joke in rather poor taste.

Contrasts badly with the exquisite good taste, nuanced imagery and delicate empathy demonstrated by the noble President in his own late night offerings!

8 minutes ago, JAG said:

It was, perhaps, a joke in rather poor taste.

Contrasts badly with the exquisite good taste, nuanced imagery and delicate empathy demonstrated by the noble President in his own late night offerings!

Trump thinks it is okay for him to say virtually anything nasty about others, but gets totally bent out of shape when they dish it back to him.

What kind of country is it when the president can threaten people & organizations on a whim?

What has happened to the rule of law in America?

Oh look, the lefties are all suddenly pro free speech 😆.

1 hour ago, JAG said:

It was, perhaps, a joke in rather poor taste.

Contrasts badly with the exquisite good taste, nuanced imagery and delicate empathy demonstrated by the noble President in his own late night offerings!

Agreed.

1 hour ago, Hawaiian said:

Trump thinks it is okay for him to say virtually anything nasty about others, but gets totally bent out of shape when they dish it back to him.

Agreed.

11 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Oh look, the lefties are all suddenly pro free speech 😆.

So you agree that Kimmel's words should not be allowed?

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

So you agree that Kimmel's words should not be allowed?

If that's what I thought, that is what I would have said.

Unlike you I am consistent on the issue of free speech.

1 hour ago, Hawaiian said:

Trump thinks it is okay for him to say virtually anything nasty about others, but gets totally bent out of shape when they dish it back to him.

So Thailand's defamation laws Sections 326–333 of the Criminal Code are a good or bad thing?

The one reason I moved to Thailand is to get away from people who talk badly about others so they can feel better about themselves. Of course when you don't understand the language and are to old to care what people say are bonuses.

I think some people are wired differently and are constantly fighting to be in a superior position so that others are more careful about what they say about someone.

Some still want to believe there are good people in the world and they outweigh the constant barrage of negativity.

I'm starting to believe that if you create weapons and train people to use weapons eventually they will find a place they can use them. There will be pressure that we spent all this money, have all these toys for what. Let's go play with them.

God, Buddha anyone please help us

America needs a leader. It doesn't have one now.

Drain the swamp, starting at the top.
That, plus 20 years of hard work, and we should be able to get America back on its feet after the disaster that is trump.

16 minutes ago, stevenl said:

So you agree that Kimmel's words should not be allowed?

Free speech doesn’t exist on public broadcast networks in the US.

17 minutes ago, J Branche said:

So Thailand's defamation laws Sections 326–333 of the Criminal Code are a good or bad thing?

The one reason I moved to Thailand is to get away from people who talk badly about others so they can feel better about themselves. Of course when you don't understand the language and are to old to care what people say are bonuses.

I think some people are wired differently and are constantly fighting to be in a superior position so that others are more careful about what they say about someone.

Some still want to believe there are good people in the world and they outweigh the constant barrage of negativity.

I'm starting to believe that if you create weapons a nd train people to use weapons eventually they will find a place they can use them. There will be pressure that we spent all this money, have all these toys for what. Let's go play with them.

God, Buddha anyone please help us

The problem I have with Thailand's defamation laws is that they can discourage customers from participating in reviews of products and services.

15 minutes ago, novacova said:

Free speech doesn’t exist on public broadcast networks in the US.

It wasn't a real problem until Trump ascended the throne.

I watched Kimmel once. After 5 minutes I was reaching for the vomit bucket.

13 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

It wasn't a real problem until Trump ascended the throne.

It’s only a problem for the left, further left then bigger and problem.

Just another insane example of Trump using his power and his spineless flunkies to silence any criticism or, really, anything at all he doesn't like that anyone says or does. Likely he will extort a huge chunk of money from ABC in the process, as he has already done several times with ABC and others.

Trump, himself, has no restraints, of course, and he can serially lie all he wants. And, he can say awful things like he is 'glad' someone who has served America well has died. He's basically a thin-skinned, lying, spiteful bully.

Also nuts, and yet another example, the prosecution of Comey for posting a photo of rocks arranged on a beach spelling 86 47. So, now you can be sent to jail for saying Trump should be ditched--which is what 'eighty-sixed' actually means. In this case, Comey didn't even say Trump should be ditched--he just posted a photo of four numbers. So much for free speech in the scary Twilight Zone of Trump's second coming.

1 hour ago, Hawaiian said:

The problem I have with Thailand's defamation laws is that they can discourage customers from participating in reviews of products and services.

1 hour ago, Hawaiian said:

The problem I have with Thailand's defamation laws is that they can discourage customers from participating in reviews of products and services.

1 hour ago, Hawaiian said:

The problem I have with Thailand's defamation laws is that they can discourage customers from participating in reviews of products and services.

I agree. Problem is it becomes open mike night for people whose expectations are unreasonable.

Most state a fair opinion but then some would rant about service, person had attitude, food was not their style, it was hot and no air conditioning.

Hotels it's always noise, location, bed comfort, toilet, bugs and air con.

Some of these are very limited events that are fixed and are not a fair representation of the overall experience

1 hour ago, novacova said:

Free speech doesn’t exist on public broadcast networks in the US.

Free Speech no longer exists in the US, period! It's not just in TV.
Sure, you can say it. But see how badly the government responds. When US Immigration has the license to pry into your phone, no entry unless you give up your passwords... That's not Free Speech.

The "political sickness in America" is without any question the malignant cancer that that convicted fellon, pedo rapist and the indoctrinated cult of his MAGA followers devoid of education and bereft of any capacity to question or think critically.

There's no question Melania is an "expectant widow" , who wouldn't be married to a nearly 80 year old incontinent monster like that, deeply flawed and lacking any humanity herself though she is.

36 minutes ago, J Branche said:

I agree. Problem is it becomes open mike night for people whose expectations are unreasonable.

Most state a fair opinion but then some would rant about service, person had attitude, food was not their style, it was hot and no air conditioning.

Hotels it's always noise, location, bed comfort, toilet, bugs and air con.

Some of these are very limited events that are fixed and are not a fair representation of the overall experience

While the is no exact way to determine legitimate complaints, one indication is to weigh them against complimentary comments. Then decide for yourself. Remember, no product or service can please everyone.

4 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

What kind of country is it when the president can threaten people & organizations on a whim?

What has happened to the rule of law in America?

This administration has abandoned all pretence of it. The supine only just majority in Congress, under the inspirational leadership of Mr Squeaker Johnson has allowed this to happen.

The MAGA crowd is getting as thin-skinned as Lefties now. Dear POTUS and FLOTUS...you are public figures. It you don't like the heat? Resign.

6 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

America needs a leader. It doesn't have one now.

Drain the swamp, starting at the top.
That, plus 20 years of hard work, and we should be able to get America back on its feet after the disaster that is trump.

I think more like at least another generation - the fungus has been filtering through the whole system since 9-11.

You won't sort that mess out overnight or in 20 years. Trump is but a symptom of something much deeper and more widespread.

It was a joke.

If it had been a joke about Renée Good...

The "expectant widow" joke isn't just a failure of humor; it’s a catastrophic collapse of basic human decency. For Jimmy Kimmel to broadcast such a corrosive remark—insinuating that a wife is essentially waiting for her husband’s death—is a direct violation of the public interest standard that every broadcaster is legally bound to uphold. This isn't comedy; it’s hateful rhetoric that has no place on public airwaves, especially when it targets the First Lady.

The FCC is absolutely right to order an early review of Disney’s licenses. A broadcast license is a privilege, not a right, and it is contingent upon serving the community with respect and integrity. When a network consistently enables a host to spread vitriol and "political sickness," it is time for an audit. Kimmel has proven he is no longer a comedian but a biased operative who uses his platform to alienate and insult. If a host cannot stay within the boundaries of professional decency, they should be decommissioned immediately.

It is time to fire Kimmel, hold ABC accountable, and restore a level of excellence that respects the First Family and the American public.

2 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

The "expectant widow" joke isn't just a failure of humor; it’s a catastrophic collapse of basic human decency.

What a snowflake attitude!

I thought at first that your post was a joke!

8 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

The "expectant widow" joke isn't just a failure of humor; it’s a catastrophic collapse of basic human decency. For Jimmy Kimmel to broadcast such a corrosive remark—insinuating that a wife is essentially waiting for her husband’s death—is a direct violation of the public interest standard that every broadcaster is legally bound to uphold. This isn't comedy; it’s hateful rhetoric that has no place on public airwaves, especially when it targets the First Lady.

The FCC is absolutely right to order an early review of Disney’s licenses. A broadcast license is a privilege, not a right, and it is contingent upon serving the community with respect and integrity. When a network consistently enables a host to spread vitriol and "political sickness," it is time for an audit. Kimmel has proven he is no longer a comedian but a biased operative who uses his platform to alienate and insult. If a host cannot stay within the boundaries of professional decency, they should be decommissioned immediately.

It is time to fire Kimmel, hold ABC accountable, and restore a level of excellence that respects the First Family and the American public.

While I agree in spirit, cancelling Kimmel and or ABC is what the left wants.

9 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

The "expectant widow" joke isn't just a failure of humor; it’s a catastrophic collapse of basic human decency. For Jimmy Kimmel to broadcast such a corrosive remark—insinuating that a wife is essentially waiting for her husband’s death—is a direct violation of the public interest standard that every broadcaster is legally bound to uphold. This isn't comedy; it’s hateful rhetoric that has no place on public airwaves, especially when it targets the First Lady.

The FCC is absolutely right to order an early review of Disney’s licenses. A broadcast license is a privilege, not a right, and it is contingent upon serving the community with respect and integrity. When a network consistently enables a host to spread vitriol and "political sickness," it is time for an audit. Kimmel has proven he is no longer a comedian but a biased operative who uses his platform to alienate and insult. If a host cannot stay within the boundaries of professional decency, they should be decommissioned immediately.

It is time to fire Kimmel, hold ABC accountable, and restore a level of excellence that respects the First Family and the American public.

Respect is earned by being respectful, not by titles.

2 minutes ago, CM Dad said:

Respect is earned by being respectful, not by titles.

It is a license that is issued for the public good, not to further a particular ideology. Why should Americans that support Trump have to watch this kind of thing?

Of course, the weak, pathetic Kimmel went on and claimed it was about their age difference, not the at least three assassination attempts, so he's a liar, he's not funny, and he's weak.

Let Kimmel make a monkey joke about the feckless Obama and see how long he's on the air.