WASHINGTON — FCC Chair Brendan Carr on Thursday warned that ABC and Disney could face FCC action over comments by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel about the alleged assassin in a case involving Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder. Carr framed the remarks as potentially undermining the public-interest duties assigned to broadcasters with FCC licenses and suggested there could be consequences if those duties were violated. The comments come as prosecutors disclosed evolving details about the suspect and as political rhetoric surrounding the case has grown increasingly heated.
On Monday, Kimmel accused conservatives of reaching "new lows" in trying to pin a left-wing ideology on 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the case, even though prosecutors reaffirmed those ties in Tuesday’s indictment. Carr, appearing on Wednesday's The Benny Show, called Kimmel's remarks "some of the sickest conduct" and indicated the FCC could pursue avenues to address what he described as a mischaracterization of the case. "In some quarters, there's a very concerted effort to try to lie to the American people about the nature… of one of the most significant newsworthy public interest acts that we've seen in a long time, in what appears to be an action by Jimmy Kimmel to play into that narrative that this was somehow a MAGA or a Republican-motivated person," Carr told host Benny Johnson. "And I've been very clear from the moment that I have become chairman of the FCC, I want to reinvigorate the public interest. And what people don't understand is that the broadcasters, and you've gotten this right, are entirely different than people that use other forms of communication. They have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest," the official added. "Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or, you know, there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead," Carr said. "Public interest means you can't be running a narrow partisan circus and still meeting your public interest obligations," he said. "That means you can't be engaging in a pattern of news distortion." While Carr refrained from flat-out accusing Kimmel of news distortion, he said an argument could be made that the liberal host had "an intentional effort to mislead the American people." Carr added, "This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney." ABC and Disney did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Kimmel’s comments came one day after both FBI officials and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that Robinson held a "leftist ideology" and was increasingly radicalized in recent years. It was also revealed that he had a romantic relationship with a transgender partner who was biologically male and transitioning to female. On Tuesday, Kimmel took aim at Vice President JD Vance for "pointing his little mascara-stained finger directly at the left" as guest-host of "The Charlie Kirk Show." Vance said on the show that most "lunatics" in American politics belong to the far left. "And by ‘statistical fact,’ he means complete bulls—," Kimmel responded.
The 22-year-old Tyler Robinson faces murder charges following the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk. The case has drawn renewed attention to how media coverage and political commentary may influence public perception in high-profile criminal cases. Proponents of stronger regulatory oversight argue that broadcasters must avoid weaponizing ongoing investigations or shaping narratives to fit partisan aims, while critics warn that aggressive enforcement could chill legitimate editorial commentary.
Carr’s comments mark a rare public confrontation between the Federal Communications Commission and major media players over how a high-profile political crime is discussed on air. The agency’s next steps are not yet clear, but Carr suggested there could be further actions if broadcasters do not adjust their practices. Industry observers note that any move would hinge on whether the FCC determines a broadcaster’s conduct violated license obligations or crossed a legal line into controlled content. The case also underscores ongoing tensions between regulators, liberals and conservatives, and entertainment platforms as lawmakers scrutinize how news and political dialogue are presented on the airwaves.
As the investigation unfolds, lawmakers and media executives alike will be watching for signs of how far regulators will go to enforce public-interest standards in an era of rapid, often hostile, political discourse. The FCC has historically exercised restraint in pursuing licenses for content that critics say crosses lines into political manipulation, but Carr’s remarks indicate a willingness to pursue a stronger public-interest posture if broadcasters are perceived as distorting or misrepresenting information tied to major public-interest events.
