The political scene in the United States has heated up again after US President Donald Trump backed the decision to temporarily remove popular host Jimmy Kimmel from the small screen. Trump went a step further, suggesting that some TV networks could have their licenses revoked. The move has sparked heated reactions among actors, comedians, academics and politicians, who warn that it is a serious attack on free speech.
What caused the controversy
ABC announced earlier this week that the show Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be taken off the air “until further notice” after the host commented on the murder of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk in a monologue. Kimmel said at the time that “the MAGA group is desperately trying to portray the killer as someone who is not part of their movement” and accused them of politicizing the tragedy. He also compared Donald Trump’s reaction to the death of his 31-year-old colleague to “a three-year-old grieving over a dead goldfish”.
Although Kimmel condemned the killing and expressed his condolences to Kirk’s family, his comments sparked a wave of criticism from conservative media outlets. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s behavior “the most morbid imaginable” and threatened regulatory action.
Trump: “Maybe it’s time to take away their licenses”
President Trump addressed reporters on Air Force One on Thursday, returning from a state visit to the United Kingdom. “I read somewhere that the networks are 97% against me. They’re giving me nothing but negative media coverage, and yet I won the election. If they’re using public airwaves, maybe they should have their licenses taken away.” His comments raised concerns among media freedom advocates, who say such statements are a direct threat to the independence of news organizations and editorial policies.
Nexstar Media, one of the largest U.S. television networks, announced that it would not air Kimmel’s show “for the foreseeable future,” calling his comments “offensive and insensitive.” Carr praised the decision, especially considering that Nexstar is currently awaiting FCC approval for its $6.2 billion merger with Tegna.
ABC’s largest local station group, Sinclair, decided to air a special tribute to the slain Kirk in Kimmel’s time slot.
Public reaction and criticism
The decision to suspend Kimmel and President Trump’s threats sparked heated reactions. Former President Barack Obama said the administration had “taken the culture of cancellation to a new and dangerous level.” Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show, dedicated a special segment of his show to Kimmel’s case, sarcastically calling himself a “patriotically obedient host” and calling Trump a “dear leader.” Maria Ressa, the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, warned that the situation in the United States was “dangerously approaching the Philippines model under Duterte” and urged Americans to “defend their rights while they still have them.” Stephen Colbert said on CBS: “This is open censorship. You can’t give an inch to an autocrat.” The Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild, two key Hollywood unions, condemned Kimmel’s suspension as a violation of constitutional rights to free speech.
Divided public
However, some sided with ABC and the FCC. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy said it was “not a culture of cancellation, it was a consequence of what was said.” Fox News commentator Greg Gutfeld claimed that Kimmel had “intentionally misled the public,” while British host Piers Morgan said it was “understandable that America is outraged.”
Legal experts have stressed that the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects free speech, would prevent the FCC from actually revoking licenses for political reasons. Anna Gomez, a Democratic member of the FCC, criticized Chairman Carr’s move, saying that “one act of political violence should never be an excuse for broader censorship or control of the media.”
Joe Strazullo, the show’s former writer, told the BBC that there was an “atmosphere of fear” among the writers and production staff. “It’s heartbreaking to see people being threatened with losing their jobs and no one knows what’s going to happen next,” he added.
