Jimmy Kimmel Show Suspended Amid FCC Pressure and Trump Criticism

LOS ANGELES – ABC has indefinitely suspended the late-night program "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" after mounting pressure from conservative figures, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and President Donald Trump, escalating ongoing tensions around media freedom and political criticism.

The suspension follows a controversial monologue by Kimmel on September 14, in which he criticized right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s allies for politicizing Kirk's recent assassination at a Utah university. Kirk, who was shot while addressing a crowd, died earlier that week, and his death has intensified divides nationwide.

President Trump, addressing reporters during a state visit to Britain, condemned Kimmel’s commentary, calling him "untalented" and accused broadcasters of unfairly targeting his administration. Standing alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump suggested that broadcasters who aired negative coverage should face license revocation. "I would think maybe their license should be taken away," Trump remarked, acknowledging that the matter would be referred to FCC Chair Brendan Carr.

Carr has since warned local TV stations about Kimmel’s remarks, prompting major broadcasters such as Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcast Group, both with pending FCC merger applications, to discontinue airing the program. ABC's decision affects its eight licensed local stations in key markets including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

The move sparked protests outside the Hollywood studios where Kimmel’s show is filmed. Around 150 demonstrators rallied, holding signs that criticized both President Trump and Disney, ABC's parent company. Protester Laura Brenner voiced concern, stating, "When people can’t make fun of the administration, you know that we’re really going down a dark road."

Former President Barack Obama, along with several prominent labor unions and advocacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, condemned the suspension as an infringement on First Amendment rights. Obama commented that the current administration has escalated "cancel culture" by threatening regulatory actions against media outlets to silence dissent.

Since his return to office in January, President Trump has repeatedly challenged unfavorable media portrayals, threatening the revocation of broadcast licenses that are regulated by the FCC, an agency typically independent from political influence.

Jimmy Kimmel’s criticism centered on how allies of Charlie Kirk were allegedly exploiting his death for political gain. The 22-year-old suspect has been formally charged with Kirk’s murder. Kimmel stated, "This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish."

The incident has intensified an already fraught national dialogue on free speech, media independence, and political partisanship. Democrats argue that the administration's pressure constitutes an unconstitutional suppression of free expression, while some Republicans frame the backlash as a necessary stand against hateful rhetoric.

The controversy continues to unfold as the nation grapples with the balance between political speech and media regulation.