Jimmy Kimmel's ongoing clash with US regulators has escalated into a broader confrontation between the FCC and ABC, after the comedian hosted a spoof version of the White House Correspondents' Dinner featuring jokes about Melania Trump. Disney-owned ABC has filed a brief accusing the FCC of retaliating against the network by launching unprecedented early licence reviews of eight ABC-owned stations, arguing the move is politically motivated rather than a genuine regulatory concern. The dispute matters beyond one show, as it raises fears that a federal regulator could be weaponised to punish broadcasters for content critical of the administration.

ABC's filing warns that other programmes, including The View, are also implicated given hosts such as Whoopi Goldberg's criticism of President Trump, and argues the FCC has no business policing opinion or comedy content. The network's brief states plainly that the action "is a signal to every media company in the country" to align with the administration's preferred coverage or face consequences. The row follows Kimmel's temporary removal from air last year over comments made after podcaster Charlie Kirk's death, which triggered mass cancellations of Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions before he was reinstated; commentators now warn the case could set a precedent affecting free expression across late-night and talk TV more broadly.