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ABC on Wednesday pulled the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air “indefinitely” over its host’s controversial comments linking the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.

trump praised the move, which came hours after Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr suggested that ABC’s broadcast license was at risk as of Kimmel’s remarks. ABC is a subsidiary of Disney.

just before ABC’s proclamation, Nexstar Media Group said that its stations that are affiliated with ABC would pre-empt Kimmel’s show “for the foreseeable future beginning with tonight’s show” because of the host’s statements.

Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for its planned $6.2 billion merger with tegna.

Trump Calls for Cancellation of NBC Late-Night Shows After Kimmel Suspension

Former President Donald Trump is calling for NBC to cancel “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” and “Late night with Seth Meyers” following ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel after the comedian’s monologue about the shooting of a Republican congressman.

On Wednesday,ABC News announced that jimmy Kimmel would be taking a week off after his monologue about the shooting of Republican Representative Steve Scalise. Trump celebrated the news on his Truth Social platform, stating, “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”

Trump continued his criticism, calling Kimmel “ZERO talent” and urging NBC to take similar action against Fallon and Meyers, labeling them “total losers.” He also claimed their ratings are “horrible.”

The controversy stems from Kimmel’s remarks regarding the shooting of Steve Scalise in 2017.Trump and others have argued that Kimmel’s comments contributed to a climate of hate. Critics contend that the suspension and calls for further cancellations represent censorship and an attempt to stifle free speech.

The White House’s rapid-response account on X (formerly twitter) echoed Trump’s sentiment, calling Kimmel a “sick freak” and praising ABC for “doing their viewers a favor.”

Federal Communications Commissioner Anna Gomez, nominated by President Joe Biden, criticized the actions, stating that the incident should not be used as justification for censorship. She emphasized the importance of free expression and warned against the use of government power to suppress lawful speech.

The situation has sparked a broader debate about the role of political commentary in late-night television and the boundaries of free speech. Washington Post opinion columnist Karen Attiah noted that the newspaper fired her last week after she said there were “racial double standards” in social media reactions to Kirk’s slaying. She argued that inflammatory rhetoric can have hazardous consequences, leading to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the shooting but has not yet commented on the suspension of Kimmel or Trump’s calls for further cancellations.

Publication Date: 2025/09/18 04:09:09