Former President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of major television networks, accusing ABC and NBC of broadcasting overwhelmingly negative stories about his presidency and calling them a threat to democracy. Trump has suggested that these networks should lose their licenses or be forced to pay substantial fees for what he describes as biased and unfair coverage against himself and the Republican Party.

In recent months, Trump has taken legal action against both CBS and ABC, resulting in multimillion-dollar settlements over coverage he claimed was defamatory or misleading. These legal victories have coincided with major corporate mergers in the media industry, with settlements potentially smoothing the path for regulatory approval.

Trump has also pushed for investigations into the business practices of media companies, particularly focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and has signed executive orders aimed at reducing such programs within federal agencies. His ongoing campaign against mainstream media reflects a broader effort to hold news organizations accountable for what he perceives as persistent bias.