President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on ABC and Jimmy Kimmel following the network’s decision to bring the late-night host back on air after a contentious six-day suspension, threatening new legal action against the Disney-owned broadcaster while referencing a previous settlement.
Writing on Truth Social just about an hour before Kimmel’s Tuesday night return, Trump said, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled!” The president went on to question the network’s decision, asking why they would “want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE.”
Most notably, Trump suggested potential legal action, stating, “I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative.”
The $16 million figure Trump referenced stems from ABC News’s December 2024 settlement of a defamation lawsuit involving anchor George Stephanopoulos. ABC agreed to pay $15 million to Trump’s presidential foundation and museum, plus $1 million in legal fees, after Stephanopoulos incorrectly stated on air that Trump had been found civilly liable for rape in the E. Jean Carroll case. A jury had actually found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, but not rape as defined under New York law.
Kimmel’s suspension and return
ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live indefinitely on Sept. 17 following comments Kimmel made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In his Sept. 15 monologue, Kimmel criticized Trump supporters’ response to Kirk’s death, saying, “The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and they are doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
The suspension came after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr condemned Kimmel’s remarks during a YouTube appearance, suggesting that ABC and its affiliates should “take action” against the host. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr warned, stating that companies could modify their conduct regarding Kimmel “or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
Following pressure from Carr, major broadcast station groups Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group announced they would preempt Kimmel’s show on their ABC affiliates, citing strong disapproval of his comments. ABC then announced the indefinite suspension of the program.
Disney announced Kimmel’s return on Monday after what the company described as “thoughtful conversations” with the host. However, both Nexstar and Sinclair indicated they would continue to preempt the show even after its return, meaning approximately 20% of ABC’s affiliated stations would not air Kimmel’s comeback.
In his return monologue Tuesday night, Kimmel addressed the controversy with visible emotion, stating, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.” He also clarified it “was never my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual.”
Political and industry response
Trump’s threats against ABC represent part of a broader pattern of pressure on media companies. The president has previously suggested that broadcast networks critical of him should have their licenses revoked. Trump celebrated Kimmel’s initial suspension, calling it “great news for America” and suggesting other networks fire late-night hosts critical of his administration.
The suspension drew criticism from across the political spectrum. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, while expressing disdain for Kimmel’s comments, compared Carr’s threats to “mafioso” tactics and warned that such government pressure could backfire on conservatives. Democratic leaders called for Carr’s resignation and demanded investigations into potential First Amendment violations.
Over 430 entertainment industry figures, including Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, and Tom Hanks, signed an open letter through the American Civil Liberties Union condemning the suspension as “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
Despite Disney’s decision to bring Kimmel back, the host acknowledged the ongoing risk to the company, saying during his return, “I know that, unfortunately, and I think unjustly, this puts them at risk. The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs.”
You can watch the full monologue from Kimmel’s return to late-night below:
For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
