Gorsuch calls out Trump FCC chief for targeting Kimmel

Media Gorsuch calls out Trump FCC chief for targeting Kimmel Comments: by Dominick Mastrangelo - 06/30/26 9:19 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Dominick Mastrangelo - 06/30/26 9:19 AM ET Comments: Link copied

NOW PLAYING

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch referenced Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr’s efforts to target ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel as part of an opinion issued on President Trump’s powers over independent agencies the court handed down this week.

In a 6-3 decision on Monday, the court ruled Trump can fire Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter, paving the way for a major expansion of the president’s firing power.

Gorsuch mentioned the FCC as one of the agencies that could be impacted by the decision.

“Last year, taking objection to a network host’s on-air remarks, the Chairman of the FCC suggested there would be ‘additional work … ahead’ for the agency if broadcasting companies did not ‘find ways to … take action,'” he wrote.

The justice was referencing comments made by Carr, who has been openly critical of Kimmel and other late-night hosts who routinely mock the president and his allies.

Carr has repeatedly insisted the FCC has a duty to scrutinize whether major broadcasters who use public airwaves are putting forth content that serves the “public interest.”

He has applied intense scrutiny to ABC specifically, making headlines when he called for a number of local stations owned and operated by Disney, ABC’s parent company, to undergo early license renewal.

The agency is separately investigating Disney over its corporate diversity, equity and inclusion policies and seeking public comment on whether daytime table talk program “The View” is a bona fide news show.

Kimmel was briefly suspended by ABC last year after accusing conservatives of trying to score “political” points over the death of activist Charlie Kirk, comments he later apologized for. The controversy stirred up free speech concerns, and Kimmel was ultimately reinstated.