President Donald Trump claimed the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! was due to ‘bad ratings’ and ‘lack of talent,’ dismissing any link to political pressure, after ABC indefinitely preempted the late-night show following outcry over Kimmel’s remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Speaking alongside U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a joint press conference, Trump declared, “Jimmy Kimmel was fired ’cause he had bad ratings more than anything else. He said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk. Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person. He had very bad ratings, and they shoulda have fired him a long time ago.” He added bluntly, “He was fired for lack of talent.”
Disney, the parent company of ABC, said this week that Kimmel’s show would be “preempted indefinitely.” The company declined to elaborate on Trump’s latest remarks. The network’s decision followed a storm of criticism over Kimmel’s commentary about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk was shot dead Sept. 10 during an appearance at Utah Valley University. Prosecutors have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder.
In his Monday night monologue, Kimmel accused conservatives of “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.” He added, “They are doing everything they can to score political points from it.” He also mocked Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death. Kimmel quipped that the president mourned “like a four-year-old grieving a goldfish.”
Those remarks drew swift condemnation from Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr. Carr is a Trump appointee who called the comments “some of the sickest conduct possible.” On conservative host Benny Johnson’s podcast, Carr warned broadcasters. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to … take action … on Kimmel or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
Within hours, two of the nation’s largest station groups severed ties with the program. Nexstar Media Group operates or partners with dozens of ABC affiliates. The group said its outlets would “preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the foreseeable future, beginning with tonight’s show.” Sinclair Broadcast Group runs ABC stations in 30 U.S. markets. It also announced it would drop the program, citing “problematic comments regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk.”
Carr praised Nexstar and Sinclair on X for “doing the right thing” and urged other broadcasters to follow suit.
Trump himself echoed that sentiment online. In a Truth Social post Wednesday night, he hailed ABC’s move as “Great News for America.” He added, “The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it, NBC!!!”
The president’s framing of the suspension as a ratings issue stands in contrast to criticism from media watchdogs and Democratic leaders. These groups view the case as a test of free speech protections. House Democratic leaders accused Carr of abusing his regulatory authority. They called his threats against ABC “corrupt” and demanded his resignation. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the panel’s lone Democrat, also warned that political violence “must never be exploited as justification for broader censorship or control.”
For now, Kimmel has not commented publicly on the suspension. His representatives have confirmed he was not formally fired. Disney executives reportedly intended to meet with him about addressing the controversy on air before affiliates and regulators escalated the standoff.
The saga highlights the fragile balance between political power, broadcast regulation, and media freedom. Whether Kimmel’s show eventually returns will depend not just on his ratings. It will also depend on whether broadcasters and regulators allow space for dissenting voices in an increasingly polarized media climate.
