Sen. Ted Cruz Challenges FCC Over Disney and Free Speech
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has taken issue with the Trump administration regarding free speech, particularly in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) inquiry into Disney and ABC. This comes after Jimmy Kimmel, during a recent monologue, joked about President Donald Trump’s death just days before an alleged assassination attempt took place.
Following Kimmel’s joke, the FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr—who was appointed by Trump—accelerated the renewal process for broadcast licenses concerning several local television stations owned by ABC. This move seemed rather quick, especially given the content of Kimmel’s earlier comments. In fact, during a parody of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last week, First Lady Melania Trump humorously described herself as a “pregnant widow.”
Just two days later, a gunman named Cole Thomas Allen reportedly targeted the event in a quest to harm Trump administration officials, prioritizing his intended victims in a chilling manifesto.
Trump responded to Kimmel’s remarks, labeling them a “despicable call to violence” and demanded that Disney and ABC take swift action against Kimmel.
Melania also shared her thoughts, stating that Kimmel should not be allowed to reach viewers every night, spreading what she termed hate. She described Kimmel as a coward, alleging he hides behind ABC’s protection, and urged the network to counteract his harmful comments against communities.
The National Religious Broadcasting Board voiced concerns over Kimmel’s joke, citing the normalization and potential incitement of political violence. Their complaints coincided with the FCC’s release to accelerate the review of ABC’s license, indicating possible violations of the FCC’s anti-diversity and inclusion policies. Interestingly, the licenses for these stations aren’t set for renewal until at least 2028, with some extending until 2031.
Cruz, speaking with Punchbowl News, argued that it isn’t the government’s role to censor speech and criticized the FCC’s actions, suggesting it shouldn’t serve as a speech police. An FCC spokesperson claimed that their review was rooted in ongoing investigations related to Disney’s practices, rather than any specific remarks from Kimmel. Yet, many observers suspect the timing is closely linked to Kimmel’s comments.
Kimmel later defended his remarks, claiming they were light-hearted and not an incitement to violence. He acknowledged the importance of rejecting violent rhetoric but suggested Melania would benefit from discussing this with her husband.
A Disney spokesperson responded to the FCC order, asserting that ABC and its stations are compliant with communication laws and are prepared to address this through legal means.
This isn’t the first time Cruz has clashed with Trump’s FCC over Kimmel. He previously accused Chairman Carr of employing dangerous tactics in an attempt to silence the late-night host. In past instances, Carr implied that Disney should take action with Kimmel, warning that the FCC might impose consequences if they didn’t.
Cruz likened Carr’s rhetoric to a mafia film script, bringing up the threats made in his podcast, where he emphasized the perils of government involvement in curtailing speech.
During a Senate Committee hearing, Cruz acknowledged his agreement with Carr that Kimmel is partisan and not particularly funny, yet emphasized that government officials should refrain from threatening repercussions for content they find objectionable. He condemned such actions as unconstitutional and detrimental to protected speech.
