Barack Obama Slams Jimmy Kimmel Suspension Over Charlie Kirk Remarks
ABC abruptly yanked Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, and Barack Obama blasted the move, saying the suspension over Kimmel’s Charlie Kirk comments is taking things to a “dangerous level.”
ABC just yanked Jimmy Kimmel off the air, the FCC got loud about it, and Barack Obama stepped in to throw a flag. Not a small dust-up. Here is what actually happened, minus the noise.
What triggered ABC to pull Kimmel
On Wednesday night, ABC halted production on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' after the FCC publicly threatened regulatory action against the network and its license. The flashpoint was Kimmel's monologue about the death of Charlie Kirk, where he talked about the possible political leanings of the suspected killer and ripped into how the MAGA movement was reacting. The show is now on indefinite pause.
Obama weighs in
Obama jumped on social media Thursday and blasted the move as government pressure on the press, arguing the current administration has been leaning on media companies to punish voices it does not like. He also shared a Vox opinion piece that labeled the suspension one of Trump's most 'brazen attacks on free speech yet.'
'After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it does not like.'
What ABC and its affiliates are doing next
In place of Kimmel's Friday show, ABC will air a special memorial service for Charlie Kirk. Sinclair Broadcasting, which along with Nexstar owns a number of ABC affiliate stations, said as much and went further: the company demanded that Kimmel apologize and make a 'meaningful personal donation' to Kirk's family as well as to Turning Point USA.
Inside baseball (because this is unusual)
FCC saber-rattling over a late-night monologue is rare territory. Networks usually police their own standards; regulators weighing in publicly, and affiliate groups loudly dictating on-air apologies and donations, is not how these things normally go. That is why you are seeing big voices — including a former president — jump in.
- Wednesday night: ABC pauses 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' after the FCC threatens action tied to Kimmel's comments about Charlie Kirk's death.
- On air, Kimmel discussed the suspected killer's politics and slammed the MAGA reaction.
- Sept. 18, 2025: Barack Obama criticizes the move and shares a Vox opinion piece calling it one of Trump's most 'brazen attacks on free speech yet.'
- The show is on indefinite pause; ABC will run a Kirk memorial special instead of Friday's episode.
- Sinclair (along with Nexstar, a major ABC affiliate owner) demands Kimmel apologize and make a 'meaningful personal donation' to Kirk's family and Turning Point USA.