Kimmel’s Return Sparks Controversy with Trump
Jimmy Kimmel made his second appearance post-suspension, facing a barrage of criticism from MAGA supporters, while President Trump labeled the situation as reminiscent of “an ’80s movie style bully.” Kimmel opened his show by addressing the primary stations, Nexstar and Sinclair, that continued to broadcast “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” across numerous markets.
During the show, Kimmel displayed Trump’s social media post, where the president threatened legal action against ABC due to Kimmel’s return. Kimmel quipped, reading Trump’s message, “Only Donald Trump would be trying to prove that he’s not threatening ABC by threatening them.”
Late-night colleagues joined in on the fun, poking fun at the president’s comments. Kimmel responded to Trump’s remark about critics saying, “He knows the bad reviews” and welcomed the president’s “silly reviews” on behalf of everyone.
Interestingly, Kimmel’s comeback episode garnered around 6.26 million viewers, marking the highest ratings for a regularly scheduled show in a decade, despite blackout orders in some areas. The show’s popularity further surged across various social media platforms.
In his monologue, Kimmel spoke out against censorship, expressing concern for his team’s job security while ridiculing conservative media narratives about the industry. He compared Trump’s support to backing Biff from “Back to the Future” and humorously referenced an incident where Trump exaggerated a small mishap into a potential lawsuit.
The stir surrounding Kimmel’s remarks on the suspect involved in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk had stirred significant backlash and a noteworthy response from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Carr attempted to downplay his involvement, but Vice President JD Vance suggested that the chair was joking.
In the ongoing debate, Nexstar announced it would keep broadcasting Kimmel’s show while keeping an eye on its content, and Sinclair has been hesitant, having previously requested an apology and donations from Kirk’s family as a condition for continuing their carriage.
As a result, Kimmel’s audience has been impacted, engaging about 23% fewer viewers than typical. The White House and Disney were contacted for comment regarding these developing situations.
