Trump calls to revoke ABC’s license over reporter’s Epstein files question

President Donald Trump on Tuesday called for ABC News’ broadcast license to be revoked while lashing out at one of the network’s reporters who asked him why he chose not to release the government’s files on notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said, “I think you’re a terrible reporter,” and said he objected to the reporter’s “attitude.”

“People see through your deception,” the president said. “Your terrible company is also one of the perpetrators. Let me tell you something… I think the ABC should be stripped of its license because your news is so fake and so wrong.”

“We have a great commissioner who should be looking at this,” he added, apparently referring to Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr.

In September, Carr threatened ABC’s license over comments made by one of the network’s late-night talk show hosts, Jimmy Kimmel, about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr, whose agency checks broadcast licenses for media companies, said in a podcast interview. “These companies can obviously find ways to change behavior and take action on Kimmel or, you know, there will be additional work for the FCC down the road.”

Hours later, Nexstar Media Group, home to ABC and ABC-affiliated local stations, said they had pre-purchased “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely. The show returned to the air about a week later following waves of backlash against ABC and parent Disney.

Trump’s angry remarks on Tuesday came shortly before the House of Representatives is set to vote on a bill that would force the Justice Department to release all of its records related to the late financier.

Trump blasted Democrats for their focus on the Epstein files, calling it a “hoax” and urging his allies to drop the issue. Trump and Epstein were friends but had a falling out years before Epstein’s death in 2019 while he was in prison on federal sex trafficking charges.

But the president could not sever his ties with the sex offender; That connection became even more apparent last week when Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released emails showing Epstein discussing Trump. Trump “was aware of the girls,” Epstein wrote in a 2019 email.

On Sunday night, as the chances of the Epstein bill passing were increasing, Trump abruptly reversed course and urged his GOP allies to support the measure.

But Trump doesn’t need to wait for Congress to pass a bill; Could unilaterally order the Department of Justice to release more Epstein files, news sources reported.

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