Josh D’Amaro is establishing his leadership by challenging the Trump era FCC policies.
A week ago, new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro was sharing plans to make Disney Plus the company’s “digital centerpiece.” By last Friday, he shifted his focus to a free speech battle with the Trump administration. Disney-owned ABC accused the administration of infringing on its First Amendment rights through an investigation into The View. D’Amaro, formerly head of Disney’s parks division, hoped to be known for corporate synergy and an enhanced Disney Plus, but this challenge involving Trump and the FCC will likely define his legacy.
In a recent FCC filing, ABC argued that the agency’s ongoing investigation into whether The View breached the “equal time” rule is a threat to free speech. This rule mandates equal access and time for competing political candidates on radio and TV broadcasts. Before the midterm elections, The View featured segments with Democratic Senate candidates but didn’t invite Republican politicians, raising FCC concerns.
ABC highlighted that The View, exempt from the equal time rule for over twenty years as a “bona fide news interview program,” should not be targeted. ABC stated that the FCC’s actions could “chill core First Amendment-protected speech for years, potentially decades.”
The ABC filing warned of potential selective regulation by the government, as The View’s long-standing exemption is questioned while the “equal opportunities” rule isn’t similarly interpreted for other broadcasters. This issue and former FCC official Brendan Carr’s threats to revoke licenses over jokes on Jimmy Kimmel Live signal an attempt to satisfy the administration, evidenced by Disney’s temporary removal of the show.
Though Disney/ABC aimed to appease the Trump administration, it hasn’t stopped Trump from seeking Kimmel’s dismissal and creating new issues for Disney. Recently, the FCC required Disney-owned stations to renew licenses by May 28th instead of the original 2028 schedule. The FCC targets The View currently, but plans to revoke equal time exemptions for other shows were hinted at earlier.
Unlike Disney, Paramount’s alignment with the Trump administration facilitated a smooth $8 billion merger deal with Skydance by canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, with the apparent aim to win favor due to past tensions involving the FCC.
Disney’s repeated attempts to accommodate haven’t deterred Trump from targeting the company, viewed as a political opponent. D’Amaro’s predecessors, such as Iger, who settled a Trump defamation suit for $15 million, and Chapek, who avoided condemning Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, may not have anticipated this, but current actions by Trump and his allies leave D’Amaro no choice but to confront reality.
The FCC’s Democratic commissioner, Anna M. Gomez, criticized Disney’s 2024 settlement with Trump, highlighting the administration’s controlling behavior and affirming that the “First Amendment does not belong to this Administration to grant or withhold.”
Gomez stressed that the public, press, and broadcasters must protect their First Amendment rights. Disney / ABC’s new challenge directed at FCC’s free speech threats shows a shift after conservative attacks on the company for “woke” content. D’Amaro realizes that neither self-censorship nor financial settlements will deter Trump. Unlike predecessors, D’Amaro understands the necessity to fight back, potentially going to court.
While this may lead to a long, difficult legal battle, D’Amaro must be ready to defend his company and its values, reinforcing his commitment to Disney and its employees.