AT A GLANCE
- ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! “indefinitely” after Kimmel criticized MAGA reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death.
- Nexstar Media and FCC Chair Brendan Carr pressured affiliates to drop the show, framing Kimmel’s remarks as “offensive.”
- Trump celebrated the suspension on Truth Social and called for more late-night cancellations.
- Local affiliate KSAT extended The Nightbeat in place of Kimmel, highlighting how affiliates can only air “acceptable” programming dictated by networks and political pressure.
President Donald Trump called ABC’s move “Great News for America” – ABC Affiliate Stations Preempts Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, will be taken off the air “indefinitely” after remarks he made Monday about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, ABC announced Wednesday evening.
Kimmel’s Monologue
“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,” Kimmel said during his monologue.
He went on to criticize President Donald Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death, rolling a clip in which Trump shifted the conversation to the new White House ballroom instead of addressing the tragedy directly.
Affiliate and FCC Pressure
Shortly before ABC’s announcement, Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar Media—one of the country’s largest TV station owners—said the company would stop airing Kimmel’s show. In a statement, Alford labeled Kimmel’s comments “offensive and insensitive at a critical time” and claimed they didn’t “reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values” of local communities.
Kimmel’s remarks also drew condemnation from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, who cast them as partisan and issued a warning to broadcasters. Carr said, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
Carr applauded Nexstar’s move, framing it as a matter of serving “community values” and even encouraged other affiliates to push back on Disney programming.
Local Fallout: KSAT Extends The Nightbeat
In San Antonio, ABC affiliate KSAT quickly reshuffled programming. The station posted on Facebook:
“ABC has made the decision to preempt tonight’s, 9/17, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! nationwide. KSAT is an affiliate of ABC, and in no way has input on this decision. As a result, instead of re-airing ABC content, KSAT will air an entire hour of The Nightbeat in order to bring our viewers more news, more stories, and more of what matters to our community.”
The statement illustrates the ‘limits’ affiliates face. Stations like KSAT may have large local audiences, but when network owners and regulators bow to political demands, affiliates are left to carry out “acceptable” programming set by national pressure shaped by Trump’s growing influence.
Trump’s Reaction
Trump celebrated the decision on his platform Truth Social, writing, “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. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible.”
While ABC has not announced a cancellation, Trump went further, demanding that NBC cancel The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers. CBS already axed The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in July.
First Amendment Woes
The move raises larger questions about free speech, satire, and political control of broadcast television. Late-night shows are built on commentary that pushes boundaries, but affiliates and networks are now operating in an environment where one sharp monologue can trigger coordinated political backlash.
Kimmel hasn’t been fired outright, but the suspension signals how fragile late-night’s future is when network decisions are less about entertainment and more about appeasing political power, regulators, and corporate owners.
