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President Donald Trump quickly criticized late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after ABC revealed that Kimmel’s long-running show was suspended and subsequently canceled due to his controversial comments regarding Charlie Kirk. Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was tragically shot and killed on September 10 during an event at Utah Valley University. The incident deeply affected the conservative community, yet Kimmel chose to use his platform to target conservatives shortly thereafter.
In his opening monologue on September 15, Kimmel mocked, “the MAGA Gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
This remark sparked outrage. Investigators later disclosed that the suspect, Tyler James Robinson, had shown left-leaning views in recent years, undermining Kimmel’s suggestion that Kirk’s murderer was linked to the Trump movement. The backlash was swift; Nexstar Media Group, which operates numerous ABC affiliates, opted not to air the show, followed by Sinclair Broadcast Group.
The Federal Communications Commission also weighed in, with Chairman Brendan Carr labeling Kimmel’s comments as “truly sick” and warning Disney and ABC of potential regulatory actions. Under mounting pressure, ABC suspended Kimmel’s show indefinitely, and this week, the network decided to terminate him outright. Trump seized the moment to criticize Kimmel, speaking to reporters.
“Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else,” Trump stated. “And he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk.”
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Trump continued his critique, describing Kimmel as lacking talent and being past his prime. “Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person. He had very bad ratings, and they should have fired him a long time ago. He was fired for lack of talent,” he asserted.
Kimmel has long built his brand by mocking conservatives, particularly Trump. However, many believe he crossed a line this time by turning the assassination of a young conservative leader into a basis for partisan jabs. Trump’s remarks added significant political context to the ongoing discussion. Unlike some defenders of Kimmel in Hollywood, the president articulated what many had been expressing all week: the termination was overdue, not only due to his inflammatory comments but also because of his declining ratings.
Before the Kirk incident, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was already struggling in the late-night ratings competition. While his peers focused on enhancing their digital presence, Kimmel leaned more on political commentary, which alienated many viewers. ABC executives, facing criticism over dwindling ad revenues, found a convenient rationale to sever ties.
Even Vice President JD Vance joined the dialogue, humorously suggesting on X that Secretary of State Marco Rubio should take over as host. This comment gained traction, reshaping the discussion and showcasing discontent with the left-leaning nature of late-night television. The repercussions of this controversy are still unfolding.
