Obama Criticizes Trump Administration Over Kimmel Suspension

Trump celebrated the suspension of Kimmel’s show shortly after the news broke — and he called on NBC to do the same with Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon.

“Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT.”

At a press conference alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday morning, Trump doubled down.

“You can call that free speech or not,” Trump said. “He was fired for lack of talent.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Kimmel’s suspension “outrageous.”

“It’s a page right out of Xi’s playbook. This is just despicable, disgusting, and against democratic values,” Schumer said in an appearance on CNN on Wednesday night. “Trump and his allies seem to want to shut down speech that they don’t like to hear. That is not what democracies do. That is what autocracies do.”

Vice President JD Vance has not yet directly weighed in on Kimmel’s suspension, but on Thursday morning, he made a joke about it.

“Everyone please congratulate @marcorubio, the new host of ABC’s late night show,” Vance wrote on X.

Marco Rubio holds several jobs in the Trump administration, including Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and Acting Archivist of the United States.

He’s been the subject of several jokes about holding multiple jobs, and has occasionally made light of it himself.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Democratic leadership released a joint statement condemning ABC’s move and calling on FCC Chair Brendan Carr to resign for engaging “in the corrupt abuse of power.”

“He has disgraced the office he holds by bullying ABC, the employer of Jimmy Kimmel, and forcing the company to bend the knee to the Trump administration,” the group of lawmakers said.

The lawmakers also signalled that they could use subpoena power to investigate the incident the next time they’re in the majority.

“Media companies, such as the one that suspended Mr. Kimmel, have a lot to explain,” the lawmakers continued. “The censoring of artists and cancellation of shows is an act of cowardice. It may also be part of a corrupt pay-to-play scheme. House Democrats will make sure the American people learn the truth, even if that requires the relentless unleashing of congressional subpoena power. This will not be forgotten.”

The statement was co-signed by Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse, and Rep. Suzan DelBene, the chair of House Democrats’ campaign arm.

Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah praised Carr in the wake of Kimmel’s suspension.

“Sic semper tyrannis,” Lee wrote. “Great work by @BrendanCarrFCC.”

He added a hashtag: #BuhByeJimmyKimmel.

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, announced that he will launch an investigation into the Trump administration, ABC, and Sinclair over the incident.

“Every American has a duty to stand up for our First Amendment values,” Garcia said. “We will not be silent as our freedoms are threatened by corrupt schemes and threats. Anyone who is complicit will need to answer to us.”

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana indicated that he was supportive of Kimmel’s suspension.

“The liberal media is finally catching up to where the rest of the country is,” Cassidy wrote on X. “We love Charlie Kirk. We don’t like dishonest brokers.”

Cassidy has a history with Kimmel, dating back to when Republicans unsuccessfully tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, during Trump’s first term.

Kimmel invited Cassidy onto his show in May 2017, where Cassidy pledged to develop legislation to ensure that families had access to affordable healthcare. Kimmel later attacked Cassidy’s bill, which led to a simmering feud.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, accused the Republican Party of engaging in censorship after Kimmel’s suspension.

“Buying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling shows,” Newsom wrote. “These aren’t coincidences. It’s coordinated. And it’s dangerous. The @GOP does not believe in free speech. They are censoring you in real time.”

Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, a moderate Republican, said he was uncomfortable with Kimmel’s suspension in an appearance on C-SPAN Washington Journal on Thursday morning.

“I think it would have been better just to shame him,” Bacon said. “People have a right to listen to what they want. If they don’t like it, don’t listen to it. I get a little worried about this cancel culture that we have.”

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut went directly after Carr after the FCC chair praised Nexstar for pulling Kimmel off the air, which preceded ABC’s decision.

“This is a massive, history making abuse of your power,” Murphy wrote on X. “It will define your legacy and one day you will come to regret punishing free speech and trying to destroy democracy.”

Taylor Budowich, the White House deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel, cheered on Kimmel’s suspension.

“Welcome to Consequence Culture,” Budowich wrote. “Normal, common sense Americans are no longer taking the bullshit and companies like ABC are finally willing to do the right and reasonable thing. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts suggested that the FCC played a key role in Kimmel’s suspension — and that media companies are to blame as well.

“Last-minute settlements, secret side deals, multi-billion dollar mergers pending Donald Trump’s approval,” Warren wrote on X. “Trump silencing free speech stifles our democracy. It sure looks like giant media companies are enabling his authoritarianism.”

Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, a Democrat and frequent Trump critic, said that if Democrats retake the House, they will investigate matters like this.

“There’s going to be a Democratic majority in just over a year,” Swalwell said during a hearing on Thursday. “And to the FCC chairperson and anyone involved in these dirty deals, get a lawyer and save your records, because you’re going to be in this room.”