Former U.S. president Barack Obama criticized the Trump administration for what he called censorship and hypocrisy in response to the suspension of comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show. Obama expressed concern about the administration’s actions, accusing it of pressuring media companies to silence or dismiss journalists and commentators it disagrees with.
The controversy arose when ABC, owned by Walt Disney, announced the indefinite halt of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after Kimmel received backlash for comments made following Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman criticized Kimmel’s remarks, leading to the show’s suspension.
In a post shared by Obama, writer Zack Beauchamp highlighted that Kimmel was taken off the airwaves due to pressure from the Trump administration, which allegedly influenced his employer to silence him. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, during a press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, attributed Kimmel’s suspension to low ratings and controversial statements about Kirk.
Trump stated that Kimmel’s firing was primarily due to his performance and comments, rather than an attack on free speech. The situation has drawn attention to the ongoing debate surrounding censorship and freedom of expression in the media landscape.