Trump Pushes for MSNBC to Lose Its ‘Right to Broadcast’

Former President Donald Trump has once again targeted a media outlet, this time calling for MSNBC to lose its broadcasting rights. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump referred to the network as “MSDNC,” accusing it of bias and declaring, “They shouldn’t have a right to broadcast — Only in America!” The Trump White House / Wikimedia

Trump’s comment comes as CNN faces a reported ratings slump, leading to planned layoffs of hundreds of employees. Despite an initial ratings dip after Trump’s re-election, MSNBC regained momentum by early January, becoming the third most-watched cable network during primetime, according to Adweek. The network and many of its hosts have frequently been critical of Trump. Warren LeMay / Wikimedia

This isn’t Trump’s first clash with a broadcaster. Less than three months ago, he called for CBS to lose its broadcast license over its editing of an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes. Trump described the edit, which trimmed 75 seconds of Harris’ comments on Israel, as an “UNPRECEDENTED SCANDAL” and “FAKE NEWS SCAM.” Saul Loeb-Pool via Imagn Images

The unedited segment was later uploaded to YouTube, but Trump remained critical, filing a $10 billion lawsuit accusing CBS of “news distortion” and “voter interference.” CBS maintained the edit was for time constraints, calling Trump’s accusations “entirely unfounded.” Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The lawsuit’s implications could impact CBS owner Paramount’s planned merger with Skydance Media. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s disapproval could complicate the merger’s review by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). FCC / Wikimedia

Trump’s grievances with the media persist as he continues legal battles and public criticisms, raising questions about how far his efforts to challenge dissenting voices will go. PD-US / Wikimedia