FCC Chairman Discusses Disney License Review Amid Kimmel Controversy

On Thursday, Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), clarified that his decision to accelerate the review of Disney-owned ABC TV stations is centered on the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices—not on the ongoing dispute between President Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

“This is based on DEI conduct, not speech,” Carr stated during a press conference following the FCC’s monthly meeting.

The review was revealed on Tuesday, just a day after President Trump used Truth Social to demand Kimmel’s dismissal for a joke made at the expense of First Lady Melania Trump during an episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Many have noted the coincidental timing of the review, suggesting that it may be linked to the recent heightened tensions between Trump and Kimmel.

Back in March 2025, the FCC initiated its investigation into Disney to determine whether the company was still engaging in DEI practices that might conflict with the agency’s equal employment opportunity guidelines.

Carr noted that Disney’s responses to the FCC’s inquiries raised concerns that the media conglomerate might be violating regulations regarding discrimination based on race or gender.

He mentioned that Disney’s communication with the FCC felt somewhat evasive. “It felt like rope-a-dope,” he said, referring to their slow response to document requests.

A Disney representative has not commented on Carr’s statements but previously expressed confidence that the company’s records affirm their continued eligibility as a licensee under the Communications Act and the First Amendment. They stated readiness to present their case through the necessary legal avenues.

Disney has until May 28 to respond to the FCC’s order and currently operates eight television stations across major markets, including New York and Los Angeles.

The back-and-forth involving Kimmel and Trump intensified on April 23, when Kimmel quipped during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner that the First Lady had “the glow of a pregnant widow.”

This comment came just days before a shooting occurred outside the dinner event in Washington, D.C. The suspected shooter, Cole Allen, 31, was arrested on charges of attempted assassination and several firearm offenses.

President Trump has continued to echo calls for Kimmel’s removal as the comedian has persisted in making jokes about him during his monologues.