Trump Demands Broadcast License of ABC Be “Taken Away” After Epstein Question — During Saudi Crown Prince Visit (VIDEO)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – A visibly angry U.S. President Donald J. Trump said the broadcast license of U.S. broadcaster ABC should be “taken away” after one of its reporters confronted him over his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — an exchange that played out with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seated beside him in the Oval Office.

The clash erupted Tuesday when ABC News chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce pressed Trump on why his administration had not released Epstein-related files. She asked, “Mr. President, why wait for Congress to release the Epstein files? Why not just do it now?”

Bruce also challenged the crown prince directly over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying: “Your Royal Highness, U.S. intelligence concluded that you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journalist. Why should Americans trust you?”

She further questioned potential conflicts of interest involving the Trump family’s business ties in Saudi Arabia. Trump reacted sharply, calling Bruce “a terrible reporter” and declaring: “I think the license should be taken away from ABC, because your news is so fake and it’s so wrong.”

He added: “You’re a terrible person and a terrible reporter… people are wise to your hoax.”

COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION THREAT

The president then said the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission “should look at that.”

Trump clearly wanted to end the discussion of Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Saudi journalist and prominent critic of the kingdom’s leadership who was killed and dismembered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. Khashoggi had written extensively about corruption and abuses of power.

In response to Bruce’s question, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman acknowledged the killing was “painful” and “a huge mistake,” saying Saudi Arabia had taken the proper steps to investigate it.

Trump quickly intervened on the prince’s behalf, telling Bruce: “You don’t have to embarrass our guest… things happen, but he knew nothing about it.”

He also indicated he did not want critical questions to undermine what he described as a “big deal” involving major Saudi investments and cooperation with Israel.

SAUDI INVESTMENT BOOST AND TALKS ON ISRAEL

During the meeting, the crown prince announced that Saudi Arabia would raise its long-term investment pledge in the U.S. from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion, describing this as a reflection of deepening strategic ties.

Details of the expanded agreements were not immediately released. However, discussions reportedly include investments in U.S. industries, particularly artificial intelligence, as well as purchases of jet engines and other high-value equipment.

The two leaders also discussed expanded cooperation with Israel. The crown prince reiterated that any Saudi–Israeli normalisation would require a credible path toward a Palestinian state.

However, the debate in the United States around opening all Jeffrey Epstein files — including those linked to Trump — hovered like a sword of Damocles over the high-profile visit.

Epstein ran a network of sexual exploitation involving underage girls. He pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring a minor for prostitution and faced new federal sex-trafficking charges in 2019.

Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell on August 10, 2019, at the age of 66, and his death was officially ruled a suicide. With Epstein dead, Trump made clear it was time to move on, saying: “I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. I threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert — and I guess I turned out to be right.”

BROADER INVESTIGATION ‘HOAX’

Trump also described the broader investigation as a “hoax” by what he called hypocritical Democrats, whom he claimed had benefited from Epstein’s donations.

Trump also noted past flights by former U.S. President Bill Clinton on Epstein’s private jet — asserting Clinton visited Little Saint James, also known as “Epstein’s Island,” 27 or 28 times. However, investigators have not verified those figures.

Yet Trump’s demand to strip ABC of its broadcast license over critical questions is highly unusual, as broadcast licenses are issued to local stations — not national networks — and removing them for journalistic questioning raises serious press-freedom concerns, critics suggested.

The confrontation underscored the high stakes surrounding the crown prince’s visit, blending diplomacy, massive investment announcements, and political tension over the Epstein files.

The FCC has not indicated whether it will respond to Trump’s remarks. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) or its parent, The Walt Disney Company, did not immediately react to Trump’s outburst.

Elsewhere in Washington, D.C., pressure also continued in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday for the full release of Epstein-related documents.

LAVISH WHITE HOUSE WELCOME

Amid the controversy, Trump greeted Crown Prince Mohammed at the South Lawn entrance, where he shook his hand and placed an arm around his shoulder. The president literally rolled out the red carpet for the Saudi leader, with a military band present and a flyover by U.S. military aircraft.

He then guided the crown prince along the White House Colonnade, pointing out decorations and historic features.

“We have an extremely respected man in the Oval Office today,” Trump said at the start of their meeting, calling the prince “a friend of mine for a very long time.”

Trump also criticized former President Joe Biden for greeting the prince with a fist bump in 2022.

“When you get off the plane and you get the future king — and a man who is one of the most respected people in the world — you shake his hand, you don’t give him a fist bump,” Trump said. “Trump doesn’t give a fist bump. I grab that hand.”

At a black-tie dinner Tuesday night, the tuxedo-clad president and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed the crown prince once again on a red carpet before a high-profile banquet. Attendees included Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Tesla founder Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, golfer Bryson DeChambeau, and football legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

Guests feasted on pistachio-crusted rack of lamb, followed by a dessert of couverture mousse pear, according to officials.

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