Former President Donald Trump claimed Friday that ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel was fired for 'bad ratings' and for saying a 'horrible thing' about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, The New York Post reported on Sept. 18, 2025. Trump did not provide independent confirmation for the claim, which resurfaced amid questions about media departures and free-speech debates.
Trump made the remarks after a reporter asked whether free speech is more under threat in the United States or Britain. The former president asserted that Kimmel was ousted for poor ratings and for comments about Kirk.
Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, has been at the center of the broader debate over media coverage and free speech. The notes describe a response from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that described Kirk's assassination as shocking for those who believe in free speech and democracy and that Starmer said he had reached out to Trump after the Sept. 10 fatal shooting of the conservative activist.
ABC and Kimmel's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and there was no independent verification of the firing claim.
Context and timeline: The notes reference the Sept. 10 fatal shooting of a conservative activist and global reactions, with Starmer replying to Trump; Trump's remarks on Sept. 18 align with a New York Post report.
The notes also include an image connected to Kimmel's firing scenario that adds context to the broader discussion about media accountability and free speech in the United States and abroad.
