Donald Trump has threatened to revoke the broadcast licences of ABC and NBC after both networks declined to air his prime-time address on election integrity. The stand-off marks an escalation in tensions between the White House and major US broadcasters, raising questions about press freedom and the use of regulatory powers against media organisations that decline to carry presidential addresses.

In the speech, which the networks refused to broadcast, Trump reportedly claimed that China had infiltrated 220 million American voter files and pointed to the "deep state" as being behind alleged election fraud. The claims are described as controversial, and it is not yet clear what regulatory action, if any, the administration could take against the two networks.