Donald Trump applauds ABC’s decision to cancel Jimmy Kimmel Live! after backlash over Kimmel’s remarks on Charlie Kirk’s murder. Find out what Trump said and why the late-night show was pulled.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Show Taken Off Air After Controversial Remarks
The long-running late-night program Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been pulled “for the foreseeable future,” according to ABC and Nexstar Media Group. The decision comes after Kimmel sparked outrage with his remarks about the tragic killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Nexstar, which operates numerous ABC-affiliated stations, announced on Wednesday that the show would be preempted indefinitely. The company strongly objected to Kimmel’s comments and confirmed that alternative programming will replace his time slot.
Kimmel’s Comments Spark Backlash
On Monday night’s episode, Kimmel criticized the way some political groups responded to Kirk’s death. He suggested that conservatives were exploiting the tragedy and even mocked the lowering of flags to half-mast.
In his monologue, he also targeted former President Donald Trump, comparing his public reaction to that of a “four-year-old mourning a goldfish.” The comments quickly went viral, drawing harsh criticism from political leaders, viewers, and regulators.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr condemned Kimmel’s remarks in an interview, warning that ABC affiliates could face fines or even license revocations if they continued to air content that he described as “a pattern of news distortion.”
Donald Trump Reacts: Calls Kimmel a “Loser”
While critics debated whether Kimmel went too far, Donald Trump welcomed ABC’s move to cancel the show. Currently on a state visit to the UK, Trump posted on his Truth Social account late Wednesday:
“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. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth [Myers], two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!”
Trump has long criticized late-night hosts like Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers, accusing them of being biased and untalented.
Was Kimmel Planning to Respond?
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Kimmel had planned to address the backlash during Wednesday night’s episode. However, the show’s cancellation prevented him from speaking directly to his audience. Sources close to the host revealed that while he wanted to clarify his remarks, he had no intention of apologizing.
End of an Era for Late-Night TV?
The sudden cancellation has fueled debates about freedom of speech, media bias, and accountability in entertainment. For now, ABC has not announced whether Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return, or if this marks the permanent end of his two-decade-long late-night career.