NRB Files FCC Complaint Over Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monologue
NRB has requested that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigate ABC Television
WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, April 27, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — NRB has requested that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigate ABC Television following remarks aired during the April 23, 2026 national broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live! that, when viewed in context, raise serious concerns about the normalization and potential incitement of political violence.
The broadcast, presented as a parody of the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Dinner, included comments by host Jimmy Kimmel regarding First Lady Melania Trump. During his monologue, Kimmel stated, “Our first lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have the glow of an expectant widow.”
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner took place two days later, on April 25, 2026. That evening, there was an attempted attack on the life of the President of the United States and other federal officials. This incident represents the third attempted attack on the President’s life in the current period and follows a series of other violent acts, including high‑profile political assassinations and multiple school shootings across the country.
NRB asserts that, in this broader context of escalating violence, rhetoric that appears to trivialize or foreshadow harm against political leaders takes on heightened significance. Incitement to kill or inflict bodily harm on the President of the United States is a serious federal felony under 18 U.S.C. § 2385.
Michael Farris, NRB General Counsel, explained:
“While the FCC is bound by the First Amendment of the Constitution and federal law (47 U.S.C. § 326) to respect freedom of speech, Supreme Court precedent makes clear that speech which incites violence is not protected. Under Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), speech loses constitutional protection when it encourages lawless action, is intended to produce such action, and is likely to result in imminent harm.”
NRB emphasizes that its request for FCC review is not rooted solely in legal analysis, but in deep concern over the moral and cultural conditions that increasingly give rise to acts of political and social violence. As society becomes more detached from shared moral foundations and a transcendent sense of right and wrong, violent extremism, often carried out by so‑called “lone actors,” becomes more likely.
History shows that such individuals rarely act in isolation. They are influenced over time by a persistent drumbeat of rhetoric that dehumanizes opponents, glorifies ideological struggle, and frames violence as a legitimate or even necessary response. When political causes are elevated above the inherent value of human life, whether the lives of others or one’s own, the threshold for violence is lowered.
The following quote is attributable to NRB President & CEO Troy A. Miller:
“We should be relieved that lives were spared Saturday evening; but relief can’t become complacency. We’re seeing a pattern of violence in this country that didn’t appear overnight. When influential voices joke about death or treat political opponents as disposable, it contributes to a culture where violence feels thinkable to the already unstable. National platforms carry real weight, and with that comes responsibility. That’s why this warranted action.”
Although the FCC often defers incitement determinations to local authorities, NRB believes this case fits a recognized exception identified in Greater Boston Radio, Inc. (2004), given the national scope of the broadcast that reaches millions of viewers.
NRB is requesting that the FCC conduct a full and impartial investigation to determine whether federal law or Commission precedent was violated.
Troy A. Miller is the president and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters Association (NRB), an organization dedicated to the protection of free speech and the ability to communicate Biblical truth nationwide–and beyond. NRB’s member outreach touches every continent through Christian radio, television, the Internet, and other platforms. Miller has been at the helm of the organization since 2019 and has helped NRB, its members, and its affiliates navigate through a dynamic and ever-changing media landscape.
About NRB
NRB is a nonpartisan, international association of Christian communicators whose member organizations represent millions of listeners, viewers, and readers. NRB’s mission is two-fold: To protect the free speech rights of our members to speak Biblical truth by advocating those rights in governmental, corporate, and media sectors; and to foster excellence, integrity, and accountability in our membership by providing networking, educational, ministry, and relational opportunities. Learn more at www.nrb.org.
About the NRB Convention
The annual NRB International Christian Media Convention is the largest nationally and internationally recognized event dedicated solely to assisting those in the field of Christian communications. The dynamic and award-winning Exposition consists of hundreds of organizations and is an active marketplace for those seeking products and services to enhance their organization. The next Convention will be held February 23–26, 2027, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Washington, D.C. For more information, go to www.nrbconvention.org.
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