The Federal Communications Commission is weighing potential action against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and his network ABC after he described Charlie Kirk's suspected killer as a MAGA supporter in a Monday monologue, according to remarks from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on a podcast appearance this week. Carr told Benny Johnson on X that he was considering an FCC investigation and that there are avenues the commission could pursue. He also floated the possibility of suspending Kimmel as one remedy for the remarks.
During the eight-minute interview, Carr suggested an on-air apology from Kimmel to the Kirk family as a very reasonable, minimal step that could help address the situation. The comments come as police say the suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah, was charged with capital murder in Kirk's death and appeared in court earlier this week. Prosecutors have said Robinson showed leftist leanings in some accounts, though investigators have also noted messaging and interactions that referenced MAGA ideology.
Governor Spencer Cox of Utah said Robinson came from a conservative family but that his personal ideology diverged from that of his relatives. In a press appearance on Meet the Press, Cox said the case involved complicated political and cultural dynamics without attributing Robinson to his family’s beliefs.
Kimmel's comments were aired on his Monday monologue, where he criticized coverage that framed the killer in political terms and argued that some media figures were attempting to weaponize the tragedy for partisan ends: "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it."
The exchange also comes amid ongoing public discourse about the role of politics in media coverage and calls from some lawmakers for scrutiny of how broadcast outlets report politically charged incidents. Carr’s remarks tied the incident to broader debates over media consensus and the Trump-era rhetoric that critics say has fractured the information landscape. Carr has previously supported measures to limit perceived bias and has urged scrutiny of major networks in other contexts.
There is no external confirmation of an active FCC investigation at this moment, but Carr’s remarks indicate that regulators are watching high-profile media statements closely in the current political climate.