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Donald Trump slammed ABC for reinstating Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, calling him “not funny” and accusing the network of political bias.
File photos of Donald Trump/Jimmy Kimmel (AP)
Donald Trump on Wednesday slammed ABC after the network reinstated Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show following a nearly weeklong suspension.
Trump, who had supported Kimmel’s suspension last week, expressed disbelief at the network’s decision, accusing Kimmel of poor performance and political bias.
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In the past, Trump’s administration has used threats, lawsuits and federal government pressure to try to exert more control over the media industry. The US President sued ABC and CBS over news coverage and filed defamation lawsuits against The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
“I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE. He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution,” he added.
“I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings,” Trump wrote.
Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television Tuesday after a nearly weeklong suspension that triggered a national discussion about freedom of speech.
ABC, which suspended Kimmel’s show last Wednesday following criticism of his comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, announced Monday that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would return after the network had “thoughtful conversations” with the host.
Two companies that owned ABC affiliates had earlier said they would not put Kimmel’s show on, the Associated Press reported.
Kimmel, who has been publicly silent since his suspension, posted on Tuesday on his Instagram account a picture of himself with the late television producer and free speech advocate Norman Lear. “Missing this guy today,” he wrote.
Before his show was suspended, Kimmel, who has been a relentless Trump critic in his comedy, suggested that many Trump supporters were trying to capitalise on Kirk’s death and were “desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
Later, Trump-appointed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said it appeared that Kimmel was trying to “directly mislead the American public” with his remarks about Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man charged with Kirk’s killing, and his motives.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said before ABC announced the suspension.
“These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
However, those remarks set a backlash in motion, with Republican Senator Ted Cruz saying that Carr acted like “a mafioso.”
Hundreds of entertainment luminaries, including Tom Hanks, Barbra Streisand and Jennifer Aniston, signed a letter circulated by the American Civil Liberties Union that called ABC’s move “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
ALSO READ | Jimmy Kimmel Receives Standing Ovation Ahead Of Return Episode Following Suspension
General About the Author
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
First Published:
September 24, 2025, 14:25 IST
News world ‘Let Him Rot In His Bad Ratings’: Trump Blasts ABC For Restoring Jimmy Kimmel’s Show
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