Kimmel slams Trump and ABC after suspension sparks fiery national clash over free speech
Jimmy Kimmel returned to the late-night stage on Tuesday night, unapologetic and sharper than ever, as he accused government threats to silence comedians of being “anti-American.” His comeback followed a week of chaos in which Disney, under intense pressure from the Trump administration, had suspended his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The saga began after Kimmel’s 15 September monologue, in which he criticised attempts by Trump supporters to reframe the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. “The Maga gang [is] desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” he said at the time, igniting fury from the right and prompting calls for his removal.
ABC’s parent company, Disney, responded by suspending production of the show—sparking a nationwide backlash. Hollywood stars, unions, and free speech advocates blasted the network for caving in. Even some Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz, condemned the decision. The American Civil Liberties Union later released an open letter signed by over 400 celebrities, calling it “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
On Tuesday, Kimmel stood before his audience and declared that the suspension had ignited a vital debate. “This show is not important,” he said. “What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
He thanked fellow late-night hosts, loyal fans, and even critics who had supported his right to speak freely, regardless of whether they agreed with him. Yet he also sought to clarify his intentions. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he insisted. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of a deeply disturbed individual.”
Still, Kimmel did not shy away from attacking Donald Trump directly. “The president did his best to cancel me,” he said. “Instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show. The president of the United States made it very clear he wants me and the hundreds of people who work here fired. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.”
Kimmel invoked his comedic heroes—Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Howard Stern—saying their struggles taught him that “a government threat to silence a comedian the president doesn’t like is anti-American.”
The host ended on a reflective note, citing Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, who had publicly forgiven her husband’s killer. “That is an example we should follow,” he said quietly. “If there’s anything we should take from this tragedy, I hope it’s that, not this.”
But even as Kimmel returned, the fallout continued. The Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, had threatened ABC’s licences if the show wasn’t punished. Two major broadcast groups, Nexstar and Sinclair, pre-empted Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their ABC affiliate stations. Sinclair said it would not air the programme until Kimmel personally apologised to Kirk’s family and donated to Turning Point USA. Nexstar insisted it would continue the blackout until “respectful, constructive dialogue” could be assured.
That means Kimmel’s show did not air on nearly a quarter of ABC affiliates on Tuesday night, even as it streamed online and on Disney’s Hulu and Disney+.
Just an hour before the broadcast, Trump once again railed against him. “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back,” he posted. “His audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.”
For Kimmel, the controversy has turned his late-night stage into the centre of a free speech battle. For Disney and ABC, it has exposed the impossible balancing act between corporate caution and political pressure. And for Trump, it has provided yet another enemy to rally against.