ABC’s move to halt the airing of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is seen as part of a broader effort by U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters to suppress media criticism. The network abruptly pre-empted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” just before its Wednesday episode due to backlash over Kimmel’s remarks referencing the alleged killer of prominent Trump advocate Charlie Kirk.
This development comes in the midst of Trump’s multibillion-dollar lawsuits against major news organizations and CBS’s decision to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” another comedian known for satirizing the president. Concerns are rising among free-speech advocates that the White House is encroaching on Americans’ First Amendment rights through financial and legal pressure on media entities.
Conor Fitzpatrick, a senior attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, highlighted a pattern of the administration targeting news outlets and personalities critical of Trump. Fitzpatrick emphasized the concerning implications for free speech in the country.
In response to ABC’s action, FCC chair Brendan Carr criticized Kimmel, urging affiliates to cease airing the show and suggesting potential penalties for non-compliance. Trump, who has a history of calling for Kimmel’s dismissal, dismissed the removal as unrelated to free speech, citing Kimmel’s alleged lack of talent.
Critics argue that the decision to pull Kimmel’s show was influenced by pressure from the Trump administration, framing it as an act of censorship. Democrats and commentators like Pete Dominick and Chris Murphy condemned the move as an attempt to silence dissenting voices.
The episode with Kimmel underscores fears of government censorship, with observers like David Frum labeling it as state repression. Trump’s litigious actions against media outlets have raised concerns about press freedom, with past lawsuits targeting prominent news organizations.
The ongoing crackdown on media commentary surrounding Kirk’s killing has drawn comparisons to McCarthyism, with advocacy groups warning of a suppression of free expression. PEN America criticized the government’s role in stifling speech, describing it as a violation of the constitutional right to free speech.