Disney accuses Trump officials of constitutional violations in court fight over FCC

Lawyers for Disney accused the Trump administration of blatant violations of the US constitution and censorship on Tuesday in a federal court hearing, the Guardian reported. The legal battle centers on an early review by the Federal Communications Commission of local television station licenses owned by ABC. [1][3][4]

During the hearing, Disney lawyers told US District Judge Loren AliKhan that the regulator is unfairly targeting the network, according to the Guardian. Bloomberg reported that a Disney lawyer stated the agency was holding a guillotine over the head of ABC, while Judge AliKhan appeared skeptical of arguments presented by the government. [1][8][9]

President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded that ABC fire late night host Jimmy Kimmel for mocking him, NPR reported. NPR added that Trump has also routinely criticized ABC program The View, accusing the show of being unfair. [2]

The conflict follows an incident from September 17 through September 22, 2025, when ABC and Disney briefly suspended production of Jimmy Kimmel Live. That decision came after criticism from conservatives and pressure from Trump administration officials regarding Kimmel comments on the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk. [10]