In a striking display of bipartisan concern, Former Vice President Kamala Harris has joined a chorus of political figures condemning what they perceive as an alarming abuse of power by the Trump administration. This condemnation follows the administration’s reported efforts to pressure media conglomerates into suspending comedian Jimmy Kimmel from his long-running late-night show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Harris voiced her concerns publicly, stating, “What we are witnessing is an outright abuse of power.” Her outcry, issued in a formal statement, emphasized the administration’s tactics of attacking critics, declaring that it uses fear to silence those who dare to speak out. She also chastised media corporations for “capitulating to these threats,” underscoring a broader worry about the erosion of press freedoms in America.
The backdrop of this controversy is Kimmel’s suspension, which occurred following remarks he made about the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during his show. This decision came after pressure from Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has significant influence over the broadcasting landscape.
The FCC plays a crucial role in licensing ABC’s local stations, leading many to believe that media corporations have yielded to the administration’s pressure due to pending merger deals. For instance, Nexstar Media Group, which holds 28 ABC affiliates, is in the process of acquiring Tegna for a staggering $6.2 billion, positioning itself as the largest owner of local TV stations in the United States.
This scenario has not gone unchallenged within political circles. Former President Barack Obama also raised alarms, asserting on X, “This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent.” He further urged media companies to resist such pressures rather than acquiescing to them.
The growing political pressure on media outlets is not an isolated incident. Trump has also taken legal action against media corporations like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal in retaliation for stories published about him. Notably, in July, Paramount settled a $16 billion lawsuit Trump filed over an edited CBS interview with Kamala Harris from the 2024 election, alleging deceptive editing and accusations of false advertising.
Moreover, the Trump administration has encountered serious challenges regarding access to journalism. A lawsuit was filed against the Associated Press when its reporters were denied entry to White House events. This exclusion stemmed from Trump’s discontent with the news wire’s coverage regarding the Gulf of Mexico, which Trump had uniquely rebranded as the “Gulf of America” earlier in the year.
In her statement, Harris emphasized the need for vigilance in the face of what she characterized as a “frontal assault on free speech.” “We cannot dare to be silent or complacent,” she insisted, adding that “We, the People, deserve better.” This viewpoint encapsulates the growing sentiment among various political figures about the need to safeguard the principles of a free press and the fundamental rights enshrined in the First Amendment.