Late-night hosts unite after ABC cancels Kimmel show amid Trump criticism
US talk show host Stephen Colbert has denounced the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live, calling it a “blatant assault on freedom of speech”.
He used the opening of Thursday’s Late Show to address Disney-owned ABC’s decision to pull Kimmel’s programme.
The network moved against Kimmel after he commented on the killing of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.
Earlier this week, Kimmel accused the Trump administration of “working very hard to capitalise on the murder of Charlie Kirk”.
President Trump and his allies had linked the attack to left-wing extremism, a claim widely disputed.
The move by ABC drew criticism across the entertainment world, with the broadcaster accused of bowing to political pressure.
Mr Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, openly celebrated Kimmel’s removal from the schedule.
He suggested certain networks could lose their broadcasting licences over negative coverage of his presidency.
“When a late-night host is on network television, there is a license,” he said. “I read that 97% of their coverage is against me.”
The president added, “If they are getting a licence, maybe their licence should be taken away.”
Meanwhile, Jon Stewart used his Comedy Central platform to parody Mr Trump’s style of rule.
Appearing on a gold-coloured set, Stewart played the role of a host compliant with an authoritarian president.
He showered praise on Mr Trump, echoing his attacks on US cities and deployment of the National Guard.
“Coming to you tonight from the real crime-ridden cesspool that is New York City,” Stewart told viewers.
“Someone’s National Guard should invade this place, am I right?” he added, before introducing guest Maria Ressa, the journalist and author of How To Stand Up To A Dictator.
On NBC’s Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon admitted he was “not sure what was going on” but backed Kimmel as “a decent, funny and loving guy”.
Fallon told his audience he hoped Kimmel would return, despite fears of censorship on network television.
He promised to cover Mr Trump’s recent UK trip “just like I normally would” — before a voiceover interrupted, praising the president as “handsome” and “making America great again”.
Seth Meyers also weighed in, telling his Late Night viewers that “a crackdown on free speech” was underway.
He added, tongue in cheek: “I have always believed Mr Trump is a visionary, a great president, and an even better golfer.”
Mr Trump later claimed Kimmel’s suspension was linked to “bad ratings”, not politics.
But the decision was condemned by figures from both entertainment and politics.
Veteran host David Letterman said it was wrong to fire presenters for refusing to “suck up” to an “authoritarian” president.
And at the Atlantic Festival in New York, Letterman warned the move showed the rise of “managed media”.
Former US president Barack Obama also criticised the administration in a statement on X.
He accused the White House of “routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies” to silence critics.
“This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent,” Mr Obama wrote.
Editing by M10News Politics Desk | Contact: politics@m10news.com
© 2025 M10News. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited
