President Donald Trump expressed strong disapproval on Tuesday following ABC’s announcement of Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night television. Trump accused the network of supporting Democrats and suggested it could be an “illegal campaign contribution.” In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized ABC’s decision, reigniting his ongoing feud with Kimmel, who has frequently ridiculed him on his show.
Trump questioned ABC’s decision to rehire Kimmel, claiming that the White House was informed of the show’s cancellation previously. He criticized Kimmel’s performance, labeling it as subpar and accused him of promoting predominantly Democratic content that could jeopardize the network. Trump insinuated that Kimmel’s return could constitute a significant illegal campaign contribution.
The former president hinted at potential action against ABC, recalling a previous financial settlement he received after confronting the network and suggesting that this situation could be even more lucrative. Despite Trump’s criticism, Jimmy Kimmel Live! made its return to ABC last night, marking the end of an indefinite suspension that had stirred widespread discussion.
The controversy stemmed from Kimmel’s recent monologue on the show, where he accused supporters of “MAGA gang” of politicizing the death of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. This led to major ABC affiliate groups, Sinclair and Nexstar, indefinitely dropping Kimmel from their broadcasts. FCC Chair Brendan Carr also intervened, warning of regulatory consequences if the concerns raised were not addressed by broadcasters.
The backlash faced by Disney and ABC was significant, with numerous cancellations of Disney+ subscriptions and calls from various high-profile individuals and companies for Kimmel’s reinstatement. Amidst debates on censorship and free speech, ABC held discussions with Kimmel, assessed the situation, and decided to resume the show in its regular time slot on Tuesday evening.
However, Sinclair announced that it would not air the comeback episode on its ABC affiliates, opting for news programming until further discussions with ABC were resolved. This development mirrored CBS’s decision not to renew Stephen Colbert’s show due to his vocal criticisms of Donald Trump. CBS claimed the decision was based on financial considerations despite Colbert’s strong viewership ratings in the late-night television landscape.