Former President Donald Trump praised Disney’s decision to indefinitely pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from ABC affiliates, calling it "great news for America" on Truth Social on Wednesday. The post followed earlier reporting that the late-night program would be pre-empted on ABC stations nationwide and replaced with other programming for the foreseeable future, a move tied to controversial remarks about a reported suspect.
Disney confirmed to Fox News Digital that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be pulled from the air for the foreseeable future. The decision followed reports that Nexstar Media Group, which owns or operates a large number of local TV stations, would pre-empt Kimmel’s show on ABC affiliates starting Wednesday night and would substitute other programming in place of the late-night program. The pre-emption was described as temporary but indefinite, with no quick timetable for a return.
"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 wrote on Truth Social, arguing that Kimmel has "ZERO talent" and poor ratings. He added a call for other late-night hosts to follow suit, pointing to Jimmy Kimmel’s and others’ failure to match the competition on NBC. ABC has not officially canceled the show, and representatives have said the pre-emption is a programming decision rather than a termination of the series.
Kimmel, who has been a frequent target of Trump’s criticism, addressed the controversy on air and in social media. On-air remarks about the alleged killer connected to a political context sparked backlash, with some conservatives arguing the remarks were motivated by political bias. The Hollywood Reporter reported that Kimmel was prepared to address the backlash on Wednesday’s show, explaining his comments and how they were characterized by critics. In the days leading up to the pre-emption, Kimmel’s team and some supporters argued that his remarks had been taken out of context, while others contended they reflected a broader pattern of partisan commentary in late-night comedy.
Federal authorities and state officials have weighed in on the case surrounding the reported suspect. FBI officials and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox described the 22-year-old suspect as holding leftist ideology and said he had become increasingly radicalized in recent years. Investigators also disclosed that the suspect had a romantic relationship with a transgender partner who was transitioning to female. While prosecutors announced indictments related to the case, officials cautioned that the full scope of the suspect’s beliefs and actions was still being evaluated. The remarks from officials have added fuel to the broader debate over how political ideology intersects with criminal investigations and media commentary around high-profile incidents.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr issued a pointed warning to Disney on Wednesday, saying the commission could take additional steps if the company did not address the controversy surrounding Kimmel. Carr told conservative host Benny Johnson that the FCC could require changes in conduct or take other steps that could affect how content is distributed and how corporate actions influence programming decisions. Carr’s comments underscored a broader federal interest in media conduct amid heightened political sensitivity and scrutiny of how entertainment outlets cover political issues.
Trump has a history of predicting changes in the late-night landscape. Earlier this year, he warned that Kimmel could be next after CBS canceled Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show, suggesting a domino effect among late-night hosts. In July, he wrote, "The word is, and it’s a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, Fallon will be gone." The remarks reflect a continuing pattern of Trump pressing for upheaval in the late-night space, even as networks maintain that programming changes are driven by ratings, advertiser concerns, and corporate strategy rather than political considerations.
As the situation develops, ABC and Disney have emphasized that scheduling changes are routine business decisions, even as lawmakers and regulators weigh possible actions. The broader question remains how political discourse and entertainment intersect in a media environment where corporate owners operate with funding from advertisers and distribution through a wide array of local affiliates. The ongoing discussion highlights the fragility of late-night platforms in a polarized media landscape, where opinions about content can quickly become political flashpoints.
In the weeks ahead, observers will be watching whether the pre-emptions become a longer-term pattern or whether the show returns to the ABC lineup with a refreshed approach. The current episode reflects the broader, ongoing tension between political criticism from late-night hosts and the corporate decisions that govern broadcast television in a highly scrutinized media ecosystem. As officials continue to investigate the alleged links between the suspect’s ideology and the case, the conversation around media accountability and political speech is likely to persist across political and entertainment sectors. The situation also illustrates how public figures, from presidents to regulators, weigh in on entertainment programming during times of political tension, influencing public discourse and audience perceptions of the media landscape.
