President Donald Trump expressed strong disapproval on Tuesday following ABC’s announcement of Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night television. Trump criticized ABC for allegedly supporting Democrats and suggested that bringing back Kimmel could be viewed as an “illegal campaign contribution.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized ABC’s decision and reignited his ongoing feud with Kimmel, who has been known to ridicule him in his show’s opening segments.
Trump questioned why ABC would reinstate someone like Kimmel, whom he deemed unfunny and detrimental to the network by predominantly featuring Democratic content. He insinuated that Kimmel’s return could be a significant violation of campaign laws.
Trump further threatened to challenge ABC on this matter, citing previous financial gains from similar confrontations. Despite Trump’s criticisms, Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned on ABC, resuming its regular programming schedule.
The show faced controversy leading up to its return, with Kimmel’s comments on conservative figure Charlie Kirk sparking backlash. Major ABC affiliate groups such as Sinclair and Nexstar had initially suspended Kimmel indefinitely, prompting FCC Chair Brendan Carr to intervene and warn of potential regulatory actions.
Disney and ABC faced backlash from audiences and celebrities, leading to a wave of cancellations and demands for Kimmel’s reinstatement. After evaluating the situation, the network decided to proceed with airing the show as scheduled, although Sinclair opted not to broadcast the comeback episode on its ABC affiliates.
In a related development, CBS chose not to renew Stephen Colbert’s show, attributing the decision to financial considerations despite his strong viewership numbers in the late-night TV landscape.