President Donald Trump expressed strong disapproval on Tuesday after ABC announced the return of Jimmy Kimmel to late-night television. Trump accused the network of favoring Democrats and suggested it could be considered an “illegal campaign contribution.”
Taking to Truth Social, Trump criticized ABC’s decision and reignited his feud with Kimmel, who has frequently ridiculed him in his show’s opening segments. Trump questioned the rationale behind reinstating Kimmel, claiming that ABC had informed the White House of the show’s cancellation previously.
In his post, Trump remarked on Kimmel’s declining audience and alleged lack of comedic talent. He criticized Kimmel for predominantly featuring content that is pro-Democrat, labeling it as a risk to the network. Trump insinuated that Kimmel aligns closely with the Democratic National Committee, implying potential legal implications.
The former president hinted at potential legal action against ABC, citing a previous situation where he received a significant sum following a dispute with the network. Trump suggested that challenging ABC on this matter could lead to a lucrative outcome. He concluded by disparaging Kimmel’s show and its ratings.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel Live! made its comeback on ABC last night after a period of suspension that caused widespread speculation. The controversy arose after Kimmel’s monologue, where he criticized the “MAGA gang” for politicizing a conservative influencer’s death.
In response to the backlash, major ABC affiliate groups, Sinclair and Nexstar, suspended Kimmel indefinitely from their broadcasts. FCC Chair Brendan Carr also weighed in, warning of potential regulatory consequences if the concerns regarding the show were not addressed by broadcasters.
Disney and ABC faced swift backlash, with a significant number of cancellations of Disney+ subscriptions and calls from celebrities and corporations to reinstate Kimmel. Amid the ensuing debates on censorship and free speech, ABC met with Kimmel, assessed the situation, and decided to resume the show in its regular time slot on Tuesday evening.
Despite the program’s reinstatement, Sinclair announced that it would not air the comeback episode on its ABC affiliates, opting for news programming until further discussions with ABC are resolved. This development followed CBS’s decision not to extend Stephen Colbert’s contract, attributing it to financial reasons despite Colbert’s strong viewership in the late-night television landscape.