President Donald Trump is publicly celebrating a major broadcasting shift, labelling it a significant win for America. It came after ABC decided to remove prominent late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The statement made by President Trump underscores the long-standing feud between the two figures, though the complex context behind the decision made by the network comes with multiple layers.
President Donald Trump calls ABC’s decision on Jimmy Kimmel a triumph
Taking on Truth Social, President Donald Trump didn’t hold back his feelings as he discussed Jimmy Kimmel’s cancellation by ABC. He called it “Great News for America,” framing the network’s decision as a cancellation. While congratulating ABC, he launched a personal attack on the host, asserting that Kimmel had “ZERO talent.”
President Trump further criticized the ratings of the show, saying, “worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible.” He then turned the focus to NBC, saying, “That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!” He openly argued that the network must follow similar cancellation suits to them.
Why was Jimmy Kimmel cancelled by ABC?
As per the available reports, ABC made the move to pull Kimmel’s show after the contentious monologue. The host recently spoke on his show about the conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death, criticizing the “MAGA gang” for their attempt to score political points from the event.
Reports further suggest that Kimmel even targeted the response of Trump to a reporter’s question, comparing the reaction of the President to a child’s morning goldfish. Such commentary was deemed by Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, the major ABC affiliate owners, as deeply offensive and insensitive. It was then decided that the show would be pre-empted.
ABC’s decision is under scrutiny
While it was not a formal cancellation, indefinite pre-emption did send shockwaves through the industry. The decision made by Nexstar Media Group, which is currently seeking huge regulatory approval for an acquisition, comes after FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened some action against Disney and ABC, calling Kimmel’s conduct “really, really sick.”
The timing of the decision has led many observers to question if this move was the direct impact of political pressure coming from officials of President Trump. It further raises concerns about free speech and the broadcast media’s independence from government influence, too.
