FCC Launches Review Of 8 ABC Stations’ Licenses After Kimmel’s Melania Trump Joke
The FCC has launched an early review of eight ABC station licenses owned by Disney, following a joke by Jimmy Kimmel about First Lady Melania Trump's 'expectant widow' comment, which drew criticism from the Trumps. The review, tied to an ongoing investigation into Disney’s diversity practices, requires Disney to file license renewals by May 28. Kimmel defended the joke as a comment on the president's age, not an assassination reference, and Melania Trump called for ABC to stop airing his show. The move marks a rare regulatory action against a major broadcaster amid political controversy.
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BreakingBusinessFCC Launches Review Of 8 ABC Stations’ Licenses After Kimmel’s Melania Trump JokeByAntonio Pequeño IV,Forbes Staff. Pequeño is a breaking news reporter who covers tech and more.Follow AuthorApr 28, 2026, 03:48pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ToplineThe Federal Communications Commission filed an order Tuesday to review Disney’s ABC broadcast licenses, pressing the media conglomerate after First Lady Melania Trump blasted a joke made by late night host Jimmy Kimmel in which he said the first lady had “a glow like an expectant widow” days before a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.Kimmel said the joke he made about Trump concerned the president's age.Photo by Randy…
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