Disney has sued the Trump administration in an escalating row between the White House and the media over free speech.
The media giant and its ABC division have filed a lawsuit accusing Donald Trump’s media regulator of waging a “retaliatory campaign” against the broadcaster because it disagrees with its output.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered Disney in April to begin the renewal process for its television broadcast licences ahead of schedule.
The watchdog has also opened an investigation into The View, an ABC talk show, while officials have been carrying out a long-running review of diversity, equity and inclusion policies at Disney.
In the lawsuit, Disney urged a judge to block the early licence renewal, which it described as an attack on the freedom of the press.
Lawyers for the company accused the FCC of attempting to retaliate against a network that “refuses to bow to the administration’s demands”.
Disney separately filed for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, accusing the FCC of an “extraordinary assault on free speech”.
In its lawsuit, Disney alleged the Trump administration was trying to intimidate the rest of US media industry.
“ABC is the visible target and suffers the most immediate harm, but the message is addressed to every broadcaster in the country, and the ultimate cost is borne by the press as a whole,” according to the lawsuit.
It marks the latest escalation in a long-running clash between media groups and the Trump administration over the White House’s attempts to tame the press.
Mr Trump has previously sued major US broadcasters, including ABC, for defamation, securing millions of dollars in settlements.
However, news groups have increasingly fought back. Last year, NPR sued the US government arguing its funding cuts had hit its First Amendment rights.
The BBC has also chosen to fight a defamation lawsuit brought by the Mr Trump over an episode of Panorama, demanding personal documents and financial records from the US president.
The row with Disney comes as Mr Trump grapples with falling poll ratings ahead of November’s midterm elections.
The US president has repeatedly criticised Disney’s ABC network, accusing the network of bias in favour of the Democrats.
The FCC, which is led by Trump ally Brendan Carr, has in turn stepped up pressure on the company, suggesting it could be engaged in “illegal DEI discrimination”.
The row came to a head last year after late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel accused Mr Trump and his supporters of trying to capitalise on the killing of Right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.
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