Trump takes aim at US media outlets, hints at network license revocations

WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump accused major television networks on Sunday of biased coverage and suggested they should lose their broadcast licenses.

In a post on the US social media company Truth Social, which he owns, Trump claimed that broadcasters ABC and NBC produce overwhelmingly negative coverage of his presidency.

“Despite a very high popularity and, according to many, among the greatest 8 months in Presidential History, ABC & NBC FAKE NEWS, two of the worst and most biased networks in history, give me 97% BAD STORIES,” he wrote.

Trump went further, saying the outlets act as “an arm of the Democrat Party” and should have their licenses revoked by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

“I would be totally in favor of that because they are so biased and untruthful, an actual threat to our Democracy!!!” he added.

In a separate post, Trump implied that the two networks were not paying their dues in “license fees,” which he said should amount to “millions of dollars.”

“They should lose their Licenses for their unfair coverage of Republicans and/or Conservatives, but at a minimum, they should pay up BIG for having the privilege of using the most valuable airwaves anywhere at anytime,” he asserted, calling the news organizations “crooked” and urging that they be “terminated.”

Trump has often criticized mainstream media outlets and what he calls “fake news” coverage of his administration.