President Donald Trump didn't hold back when news broke that ABC suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" indefinitely, taking to social media with a sharp jab at the late-night host.
According to USA TODAY, Trump called the suspension "great news for America" on Truth Social, applauding ABC for finally showing some backbone.
The decision came after Kimmel's comments on the tragic death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of Trump, stirred up a firestorm of criticism from viewers and officials alike.
Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old prominent conservative figure, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has been charged with murder in connection to the incident.
Across the nation, several individuals, from a Marine Corps recruiter to university faculty, faced professional repercussions for their social media posts about Kirk's death, which many deemed offensive. The incident quickly became a flashpoint in an already polarized political landscape.
On Sept. 15, during his monologue, Kimmel addressed the shooting, focusing on the reactions from Trump and other Republicans, which he framed as an attempt to politicize the tragedy. His words drew immediate backlash, including from the head of the Federal Communications Commission, prompting ABC to act.
Trump's Truth Social post didn't just stop at praising ABC's decision; he tore into Kimmel personally, declaring him to have "ZERO talent" and worse ratings than even Stephen Colbert. He also took swipes at other late-night hosts like Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, labeling them "total losers" on "Fake News NBC."
Kimmel's remarks included a jab at Trump's emotional response to Kirk's death, mocking a clip where the president shifted focus to a White House ballroom project when asked how he was coping. "This is not how an adult grieves," Kimmel quipped, comparing Trump's reaction to a child mourning a pet goldfish.
While Kimmel's attempt at humor may have aimed to critique leadership, it landed as a cheap shot during a moment of genuine loss for many. Tasteless commentary on a murder isn't satire; it's a misstep that deserved the network's response.
In his Sept. 15 monologue, Kimmel accused the "MAGA gang" of trying to mischaracterize the suspect in Kirk's murder to score political points, before pivoting to Trump's personal reaction. He pointed to footage of Trump discussing ballroom construction with reporters, sarcastically dubbing it the "fourth stage of grief."
Kimmel doubled down, playing another clip from Trump's "Fox & Friends" appearance where he again mentioned meeting with architects during the news of Kirk's death. "There's something wrong with him," Kimmel remarked, questioning why a $200 million ballroom was even a priority at such a time.
Such biting criticism might resonate with some audiences, but it glosses over the complexity of public figures processing grief under constant scrutiny. Kimmel's words felt less like holding power to account and more like exploiting a tragedy for laughs, a line too often crossed in today's entertainment.
Trump's disdain for late-night hosts like Kimmel is no secret, as he has repeatedly called for their dismissal and criticized their platforms as biased. His legal battles with major media outlets, including lawsuits against the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CBS News, ABC News, and the Des Moines Register, reflect a consistent pushback against what he calls "fake news."
These actions, ranging from defamation claims to disputes over polling data, show a president unwilling to let perceived slights go unanswered, even if some cases, like the New York Times lawsuit costing him over $392,000 in fees, have backfired. Meanwhile, settlements with ABC News for $15 million and CBS for $16 million suggest some vindication for his grievances.
This suspension of Kimmel's show fits into a larger pattern of accountability that many Americans, tired of Hollywood's endless moralizing, might quietly cheer. When late-night TV becomes a soapbox for progressive talking points instead of comedy, networks risk alienating half their audience, a lesson ABC seems to have learned.
