Just hours before Jimmy Kimmel was set to return to late-night television, President Donald Trump issued a scathing rebuke of ABC and its decision to give the embattled comedian his platform back—despite his show previously being pulled due to outrage over inappropriate remarks about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Posting to Truth Social, President Trump wrote:
“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!”
Trump didn’t hold back, questioning ABC’s judgment and calling into doubt Kimmel’s relevance:
“Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there. 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.”
Highlighting the partisan tilt of mainstream media, Trump went on to point out what many conservatives believe is an ongoing pattern of media bias and potential FEC violations:
“He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. 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.”
Kimmel’s return to Jimmy Kimmel Live! came just a week after ABC temporarily halted production of the show. The suspension followed intense backlash over remarks made by Kimmel referencing the tragic assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk—a key figure in the conservative movement.
Disney, ABC’s parent company, issued a carefully-worded statement attempting to justify the show’s short-lived suspension:
“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” the company said. “It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
President Trump, who celebrated Kimmel’s initial suspension as a rare victory against liberal media excess, had previously praised ABC’s decision:
“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.”
