Former President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to late-night host Jimmy Kimmel just weeks before his show was suspended indefinitely by ABC. This development follows Kimmel’s controversial comments regarding the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist. Kimmel’s remarks, made during a recent episode, sparked significant backlash, leading to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Kimmel faced criticism for his statements, where he suggested that the political right was attempting to downplay the actions of the individual responsible for Kirk’s death. “The MAGA Gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said during his Monday night broadcast.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump had previously taken aim at Kimmel shortly after CBS announced the cancellation of Stephen Colbert‘s show. He remarked, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!”
Shortly after the suspension of Kimmel’s show, Trump expressed his approval of ABC’s decision, stating on Truth Social, “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.” He further warned other late-night hosts, including Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon, suggesting that their ratings were also dismal.
The decision to suspend Kimmel’s show was met with an official statement from Nexstar, a significant owner of local television stations in the United States. The statement read, “Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets.”
Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, added that Kimmel’s comments were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.” He emphasized that the network’s choice to preempt Kimmel’s show was made in the interest of allowing for more respectful dialogue, stating, “Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time.”
This incident reflects ongoing tensions in the media landscape, particularly regarding the intersection of politics and entertainment. As late-night hosts navigate a polarized environment, the consequences of their remarks can significantly impact their platforms and audiences. The future of Kimmel’s show remains uncertain as discussions continue regarding the balance of free speech and responsible commentary in an increasingly charged political climate.
