(NEXSTAR) — ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely following comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s killing.
The network’s decision came after Nexstar announced its ABC affiliates would pre-empt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely over his comments.
Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting sector, stated, “Mr. Kimmel’s remarks regarding Mr. Kirk’s death are deeply offensive and inconsiderate, especially during these critical times in our national dialogue. We believe his words don’t accurately represent the diverse opinions, perspectives, and values cherished by the local communities we serve.”
Following this news, President Trump congratulated ABC in a post on Truth Social, praising them for their bravery in making a necessary decision. He further urged NBC to dismiss late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, labeling them both as “total failures.”
Kimmel has been an outspoken critic of President Trump, whom he has lampooned on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” relentlessly in recent years.
In his monologue on Monday, Kimmel stated, “Over the weekend, the MAGA supporters reached unprecedented lows, as they struggled to disassociate from the individual who murdered Charlie Kirk, exploiting the tragedy for political advantage.”
Kimmel also remarked, “Amidst all the blame games, there was grief — on Friday, the White House lowered the flags to half-staff, which drew some critique. However, from a personal standpoint, it’s evident how profoundly the president feels the impact,” before displaying a clip of Trump responding to reporters by highlighting construction work at the White House when asked about his state.
Kimmel accused Trump of mourning the assassinated conservative influencer “the way a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish,” according to The Hill.
He returned to the topic on Tuesday night, mocking Vice President JD Vance’s performance as guest host for Kirk’s podcast.
Kimmel criticized Trump for “stirring the pot” by targeting individuals on the left. “What’s the narrative here, are they just timid pickleball enthusiasts fearful of tennis balls, or a highly disciplined lethal group of commandos? They can’t be both,” he commented.
The Hill reported that Brendan Carr, a Federal Communications Commissioner who had earlier condemned Kimmel’s segment as “one of the most appalling acts,” welcomed the recent developments with satisfaction.
“I want to thank Nexstar for doing the right thing,” Carr said in a statement Wednesday. “While this may be an unprecedented decision, it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community values.”
ABC’s decision to take the show off air comes at a fraught political and cultural moment in America. In the hours after Kirk was killed, people ranging from an NFL team employee to firefighters, public officials and a cable news commentator were suspended or fired over comments related to his death.
Kirk, beloved by conservatives and widely regarded as having played a critical role in helping mobilize voters for President Trump, drew fierce criticism from other Americans for his political views.
A message sent to a spokesperson for Kimmel was not immediately returned.
Kimmel, who has been hosting the show since 2003, is in the final year of a contract that ends May 2026.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
