Disney confirmed Jimmy Kimmel Live! would resume on Tuesday, days after affiliates pulled the plug over his comments. Nexstar and Sinclair, two of the biggest ABC affiliate owners, said they will not carry the show despite its reinstatement.
BY PC Bureau
Washington, Sept 24 — US President Donald Trump has lashed out at television network ABC for reinstating comedian and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, whose program was suspended last week following outrage over remarks he made on the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
ABC’s parent company Disney announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return to the air on Tuesday, despite ongoing opposition from major affiliate groups. The decision sparked a furious response from Trump, who accused the network of bias and hinted at legal action.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump fumed: “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his show was cancelled!”
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Calling Kimmel “talentless” and “not funny,” Trump suggested that allowing him back on air amounted to a “major illegal campaign contribution” to Democrats. He warned that his administration would “test ABC out on this,” claiming that the network had previously paid him $16 million after a dispute.
‘I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back’
Trump takes to Truth Social to bash ‘a true bunch of losers’
‘His audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there’ pic.twitter.com/x1GYrJsXpY
— RT (@RT_com) September 24, 2025
“Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad ratings,” Trump wrote, dismissing the comedian as “another arm of the DNC.”
Why Kimmel Was Suspended
The controversy began after Kimmel’s September 16 monologue, in which he mocked Trump’s response to Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University and criticized FBI Director Kash Patel’s handling of the probe.
Kimmel ridiculed Trump’s comments about White House ballroom construction, saying:
“This is not how an adult grieves the murder of a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
His remarks were condemned as insensitive by Nexstar Media Group, which controls dozens of ABC affiliates. Nexstar announced it would no longer broadcast Kimmel’s show “for the foreseeable future,” citing concerns over “offensive” language during a sensitive moment.
Affiliate Rebellion Continues
Despite Disney’s greenlight for Kimmel’s return, resistance remains. Both Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcast Group, which together control nearly one-quarter of ABC affiliates, have refused to carry the show.
Nexstar executive Andrew Alford said Kimmel’s comments “do not reflect the values of the communities we serve,” while Sinclair has demanded assurances of “respectful, constructive dialogue” before reinstating broadcasts.
When Nexstar first pulled the program, Trump celebrated the decision, calling it “great news for America” and praising ABC for “finally having courage.” Now, with Kimmel back on air, the president has reverted to his trademark mix of curses and calumny, signaling that the battle between the White House and late-night comedy is far from over.
