Trump Criticizes Jimmy Kimmel's Return to Late-Night

Former President Donald Trump has expressed strong disapproval over ABC's choice to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel.

Just an hour before the scheduled airing of Kimmel’s Tuesday night program, Trump shared on Truth Social his disbelief at ABC's decision to reinstate Kimmel.

"ABC had previously informed the White House that Kimmel’s show was canceled!" he declared. "Something changed because his viewership vanished, and his so-called talent was never present."

Implying possible legal action, Trump noted a previous $15 million defamation victory against ABC and stated, "We might put ABC to the test. Let's see what happens."

The Controversial Suspension

On September 17, Disney pulled Kimmel's show. This decision came after Brendan Carr, head of the FCC, criticized Kimmel's remarks regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The suspension sparked widespread backlash from prominent Hollywood personalities and late-night hosts who accused the Trump administration of violating free speech.

At Kirk's memorial service in Arizona, Trump praised the suspension, stating: "Finally, ABC had the bravery to do what was necessary," a sentiment he echoed while visiting the United Kingdom.

Kimmel’s Return

Disney announced Kimmel’s upcoming return to "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" following his comments on Kirk's death.

In their explanation, Disney stated, "We halted production to prevent intensifying an already sensitive situation in the nation. Recent dialogues with Jimmy influenced our decision to resume the show."

Hollywood luminaries, including Tom Hanks and Jennifer Aniston, supported Kimmel with an open letter endorsing his return before Disney's announcement.

Political Reactions

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, scrutinized Disney's actions with a stern warning, "This can go smoothly or become difficult," referencing Kimmel’s controversial comments.

Ultimately, Nexstar Media Group, which owns several ABC affiliates, decided to stop airing Kimmel's program. Trump supported Carr's decisions, downplaying Sen. Ted Cruz's comparison of Carr’s actions to those of "a mafia figure."

Broadcast Decisions

Prior to Trump’s statements, major broadcasters, including Nexstar and Sinclair, opted for alternative programming instead of Kimmel's show. Nevertheless, Kimmel remains accessible through Disney’s streaming platforms.

Meanwhile, Nexstar and Disney face pressing matters before the FCC, including a potential $6.2 billion merger with another TV operator.

Neither Trump’s nor Kimmel's representatives responded to requests for comment from Business Insider.