After Khashoggi Exchange, Trump Attacks ABC and Calls to Revoke Its Broadcast License

Donald Trump’s Oval Office meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman drew sharp criticism after the president appeared to defend the crown prince, dispute U.S. intelligence on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and push back on pointed questions from the press.

When ABC News chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce asked about Khashoggi, Trump suggested the question might “embarrass” his guest and called it “insubordinate,” framing the reporter’s duty to ask tough questions as an affront to his visitor. The exchange intensified when Bruce pressed about the Jeffrey Epstein files and why the president had not disclosed them himself instead of waiting for Congressional action.

Responding in a combative tone, Trump repeatedly criticized Bruce’s “attitude” and attacked ABC as an organization. He accused the network of spreading "fake" news and urged that its broadcast license be reviewed by regulators, invoking the Federal Communications Commission and its leadership.

“People are wise to your hoax, and ABC is — your company, your crappy company — is one of the perpetrators. I’ll tell you something, I think the license should be taken away from ABC, because your news is so fake and so wrong. And we have a great commissioner, a chairman, who should take a look at that.”

Trump also cited a recurring talking point — that networks allegedly giving him overwhelmingly negative coverage are not credible — and suggested such coverage could justify severe regulatory scrutiny. This episode follows earlier public threats by the president to punish broadcasters that provide unfavorable reporting and adds to a pattern of antagonism toward the press.

Less than a year earlier, ABC and its parent company settled a dispute with the president for $16 million; that payment did not prevent subsequent attacks. Observers have noted that calls to revoke or review broadcast licenses raise serious First Amendment and regulatory concerns, as the independence of news organizations is a core element of American democracy.

Whether framed as political rhetoric or a direct challenge to press freedom, the confrontation underscores mounting tensions between the administration and major news outlets. Critics say such attacks threaten longstanding norms that protect free speech and a free press; supporters of the president argue he is calling out perceived media bias.

Implications: The president’s public push to involve regulators in disputes over news coverage increases pressure on institutions that are supposed to act independently. The incident is likely to prompt further debate about media credibility, regulatory norms and the boundaries of executive rhetoric toward the press.