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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