Apr 30, 2026 9:01am PT

FCC Chairman Claims No White House Pressure to Go After ABC Over Kimmel Joke, Trolls Critic Accusing Him of Being a ‘Whole Bitch’ With Meme From ‘Parks and Recreation’

Todd Spangler

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Todd Spangler

NY Digital Editor

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Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chairman of the FCC, claimed there was no White House pressure on him to make the unprecedented order forcing Disney’s ABC to reapply for spectrum licenses on an accelerated schedule — a move that came as President Trump has called for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired over a joke the late-night host made about First Lady Melania Trump.

Speaking to reporters Thursday after the FCC’s April open meeting, Carr maintained the agency’s official position that the ABC license review is due to its investigation into Disney’s potential violations of discrimination rules via its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices — not because of “speech.”

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FCC Chairman Claims No White House Pressure to Go After ABC Over Kimmel Joke, Trolls Critic Accusing Him of Being a 'Whole Bitch' With Meme From 'Parks and Recreation'