President Trump recently criticized former late-night host David Letterman in defense of Jimmy Kimmel, who made controversial remarks regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“What happened to the highly overrated David Letterman was never good,” Trump stated. He later shared a post on Truth Social, saying, “He looks like hell, but at least he knew when he would quit. Loser!”
Letterman, who is known for his late-night tenure, faced backlash from the Trump administration after Kimmel’s show was put on hold due to his comments. Trump expressed concern about the state of media, saying, “Is this right where this is heading? It’s managed media, and it’s not good.” He added, “It’s ridiculous. You can’t fire someone because you’re afraid or trying to bow to an authoritarian regime. That’s not how this works.”
Kimmel spoke out on Monday, claiming the country had hit “some new lows over the weekend” as media attempted to cast the child involved in Kirk’s killing in a negative light.
He accused conservative Republicans of “trying to score political points” following the fatal incident in Utah last Wednesday.
The decision by ABC came after Nexstar Media Group, which owns the affiliate station, announced it would preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live” due to the controversial rhetoric. FCC Chair Brendan Kerr condemned Kimmel’s comments, labeling them as “some of the most sickening acts possible.”
In response, many Democrats condemned the administration’s actions, with some lawmakers calling for Carr’s resignation over concerns of censorship. There have been growing worries about free speech since the Trump administration indicated it would investigate negative comments made by federal employees about Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA.
Other late-night hosts expressed solidarity with Kimmel following his suspension, with CBS’s Stephen Colbert criticizing ABC’s decision as “censored.”
