Trump Claims Negative Media Coverage Illegal Amid Kimmel Show Suspension, Free Speech Debate

President Donald Trump has sharply criticized American news outlets for their overwhelmingly negative coverage of him, calling it "really illegal" and claiming that 97% of stories about him are bad. He defended FCC member Brendan Carr, who threatened sanctions against ABC affiliates airing Jimmy Kimmel's show after Kimmel made jokes about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which led to the show's suspension. Trump praised Carr as a patriot and dismissed the suspension as a response to Kimmel's "lack of talent," rejecting claims that this was censorship. The suspension sparked widespread condemnation from Hollywood unions, Democratic lawmakers, and others who viewed it as a dangerous attack on free speech and government overreach. Senator Ted Cruz, while a Trump ally, criticized Carr's threat as resembling a mafia-style intimidation, warning of the risks when government decides acceptable speech. This controversy highlights ongoing tensions over media freedom, government influence, and partisan divides in the United States under President Trump's administration.