President Donald Trump has intensified his feud with the American press, accusing news outlets of publishing overwhelmingly negative stories about him and even calling such coverage “illegal.” His remarks have further fueled debate over free speech following the abrupt suspension of comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show by ABC.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump complained that television networks deliberately distort stories about his administration. “They’ll take a great story and they’ll make it bad. See I think it’s really illegal, personally,” the president said, repeating his long-standing claim that 97 percent of media coverage about him is unfavorable.
The 79-year-old Republican, who has filed multiple defamation lawsuits against major news organizations this year, reserved particular praise for Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner Brendan Carr. Carr sparked controversy this week after he lashed out at Kimmel over remarks made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, warning broadcasters that they could face sanctions if they continued airing his show.
Just hours after Carr’s comments, ABC announced Kimmel’s program had been suspended indefinitely, a move that ignited a fierce national debate about government overreach, censorship, and the limits of free expression.
Trump defended Carr, calling him “an incredible American patriot with courage.” But even some of the president’s Republican allies voiced concern. Texas Senator Ted Cruz warned that it was dangerous for government officials to dictate acceptable speech.
Commenting on Carr’s threat to fine broadcasters or revoke licenses, Cruz drew a sharp comparison to organized crime. “I got to say that’s right out of Goodfellas,” he said. “That’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar, going, ‘Nice bar you have here. It would be a shame if something happened to it.’”
The controversy comes as Trump continues his personal legal battle with the press. His campaign to rein in what he calls “fake news” suffered a blow this week after a federal judge dismissed his $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, issuing a stinging rebuke of the president’s claims.
The clash between Trump, regulators, and the media underscores the increasingly volatile intersection of politics, entertainment, and press freedom in the United States, with critics warning that the latest showdown could set a troubling precedent.