WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 22: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office August 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump announced the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw will take place at The Kennedy Center. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump has launched a pointed critique against the news networks ABC and NBC, labeling them as “biased and untruthful” in their coverage of his presidency. The remarks came during a series of posts on social media on August 24, 2025, where Trump expressed his belief that both networks pose a “threat to democracy” and suggested that they should lose their broadcast licenses.
In his posts, Trump asserted that his current term has been “the greatest 8 months in Presidential History,” despite his claims of facing overwhelmingly negative press. He stated, “Despite a very high popularity and, according to many, among the greatest 8 months in Presidential History, ABC & NBC FAKE NEWS, two of the worst and most biased networks in history, give me 97% BAD STORIES.” He further claimed that if this assessment were accurate, the networks should be treated as “an arm of the Democrat Party,” advocating for action from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revoke their licenses.
Trump did not stop there. He further questioned, “Why is it that ABC and NBC FAKE NEWS, two of the absolute worst and most biased networks anywhere in the world, aren’t paying millions of dollars a year in license fees?” He argued that their coverage of Republicans and conservatives is unjust, suggesting they should either face financial penalties or lose their broadcasting rights entirely.
In a third post, Trump claimed to be experiencing his highest poll numbers yet, stating, “Except what is written and broadcast in the Fake News, I now have the highest poll numbers I’ve ever had, some in the 60’s and even 70’s.” His sentiments reflect a contentious relationship with media outlets, which he has frequently criticized during his political career.
These remarks followed a significant legal victory for Trump against CBS. He reached a $16 million settlement related to a 2024 interview on “60 Minutes” featuring then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Following this settlement, the FCC approved a major merger between CBS’s parent company, Paramount, and Skydance, valued at $8 billion.
The president’s criticisms have raised concerns among observers about the potential misuse of federal power to influence media narratives. On the same day as Trump’s social media posts, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie appeared on ABC’s “This Week,” where he condemned Trump’s actions regarding the FBI raids on his former national security advisor, John Bolton.
Trump’s ongoing conflict with major news networks highlights the deepening polarization in American media and politics, as the former president continues to position himself against what he perceives as unfair treatment from the press.
