Anna Gomez, a member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), expressed concerns on Thursday about what she perceives as the Trump administration’s efforts to use licensing authorities against broadcasters. She stated that this approach aims to instill fear among them, suggesting it’s part of a broader campaign of censorship and control.
Gomez, who was appointed by President Biden, made these remarks during an Axios Media Trends live event. She argued that such tactics could force broadcasters to reconsider their commentary regarding the administration.
Her comments followed ABC’s decision to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely amid pressures from FCC chair Brendan Carr. Kimmel faced backlash from President Trump and other Republican figures due to remarks he made regarding the recent murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In his show, Kimmel criticized the attempts by some right-wing figures to distance themselves from the actions of the child who killed Kirk, implying they were traipsing into new depths of political opportunism.
Meanwhile, Carr criticized Kimmel’s remarks on a podcast, suggesting that airing such views doesn’t serve community interests. Gomez, however, disapproved of Carr’s stance, emphasizing the necessity of standing against efforts to silence dissent and undermining freedom of expression.
Since her appointment in May 2023, Gomez’s term is set to end in July 2026. Her views diverged sharply from the recent actions of ABC and Nexstar, which preemptively pulled Kimmel’s show amid controversy. Carr praised their decision, underlining that broadcasters have the right to reject content they consider misaligned with community values.
In a response to Kimmel’s suspension, Gomez labeled the decision as a “co ill-fated corporate surrender.” She sustained that it threatens the foundation of initial revisions related to free speech.
Gomez has also voiced her opinion that both the FCC and the White House are infringing upon First Amendment protections, arguing that the administration’s actions reflect a clear contradiction of its principles.
The 1934 Communications Act, which established the FCC, maintains that the Commission cannot censor broadcasters and that regulations should never compromise free speech rights. Gomez stressed that pressuring stations to alter broadcasts is fundamentally inappropriate and that the FCC lacks constitutional power to withdraw licenses for specific content.
In response, a White House spokesperson clarified that Kimmel’s suspension isn’t a free speech issue. They asserted that he can continue making his jokes, but private companies aren’t obligated to provide him airtime, contrasting the situation with what they describe as attempts by the Biden administration to control viewpoints on social media.
No comment was received from the FCC on this matter.
