Trump ignites free speech showdown following Kimmel's show suspension
4 Min Read
Trump's praise of Jimmy Kimmel's suspension and threats to revoke TV licenses have sparked nationwide protests and renewed concerns over free speech and government coercion.
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Juliette Smith joins a demonstration in response to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show outside of Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
US President Donald Trump welcomed on Thursday the suspension of comedian Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show, warning that television networks could lose their broadcasting licenses if they continue to air content critical of his administration. His comments have intensified a growing national debate over the boundaries of free expression and the independence of broadcasters.
Kimmel came under fire from Trump and his allies after criticizing how Republicans reacted to the assassination of MAGA activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot while speaking at a Utah university on September 10. Trump's supporters demanded reverence for Kirk, threatening consequences for those who questioned his legacy. In his monologue, Kimmel accused them of exploiting Kirk's death for political points.
Disney pulls show amid pressure
ABC, owned by Disney, announced on Wednesday that Jimmy Kimmel Live would be suspended indefinitely after conservative backlash. Some affiliates, including stations owned by Nexstar and Sinclair, had already dropped the program even before ABC's decision. Sources told Reuters that Disney executives, including CEO Bob Iger and Entertainment Co-Chair Dana Walden, held private discussions with Kimmel in an attempt to defuse the crisis but opted for suspension when no compromise was reached.
Sinclair went further, demanding that Kimmel apologize to Kirk's family and make financial contributions to Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA, before it would consider airing the show again.
The move has sparked boycotts against Disney and its affiliates, with protesters urging consumers to cancel Disney+ subscriptions and pressure broadcasters to resist government coercion.
ABC you will learn the same lesson Target did. Do not bite the hands that feed you #CancelHulu #CancelDisney pic.twitter.com/Y8HVgsgb9C
— Dr. Shade (@drshadetree) September 18, 2025
Protests in Hollywood
About 150 demonstrators gathered outside Kimmel's Hollywood studio, chanting and carrying placards reading "Don't Bend a Knee to Trump," "Resist fascism," and "Cancel Disney+." Passing drivers honked in support as demonstrators spilled into the street.
Here's the scene at the Jimmy Kimmel protest at ABC/Disney today. pic.twitter.com/yMrE26TkdZ
— Katie Kilkenny (@katiekilkenny7) September 18, 2025
On CBS, Stephen Colbert lampooned the controversy with a parody of Disney's "Be Our Guest," singing "shut your trap" instead. "Jimmy, I stand with you and your staff 100 percent," Colbert told viewers. CBS had already canceled his show earlier this year, a decision critics described as political appeasement.
Jon Stewart, reintroduced on Comedy Central as the "patriotically obedient host" of a government-approved Daily Show, mocked Trump as "our great father" and joked that Britain treated him "with the respect and deference that any sun god would command."
Trump's threats and FCC pressure
During his state visit to the United Kingdom, Trump denounced Kimmel as "untalented" and criticized him for saying "a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk." Later, aboard Air Force One, Trump escalated his remarks: "That's something that should be talked about for licensing ... All they do is hit Trump. I would think maybe their license should be taken away. It will be up to Brendan Carr."
FCC Chair Brendan Carr had already suggested stations drop Kimmel's program, citing obligations under the FCC's "public interest" mandate. Two of the largest broadcast owners, Nexstar and Sinclair, both of which have merger deals pending before the FCC, announced they would no longer carry the show.
Democratic-appointed FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez rebuked the move, stressing that the commission has no authority to punish networks for unfavorable commentary. Legal experts note that political satire and opinion enjoy strong First Amendment protections, making government retaliation legally questionable.
Civil liberties groups warn of coercion
Former President Barack Obama condemned the administration's tactics, saying, "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 doesn't like."
The American Civil Liberties Union called the suspension an unconstitutional attempt to "silence its critics and control what the American people watch and read." Writers' and actors' unions echoed that assessment, warning of a dangerous precedent in which regulatory threats dictate entertainment content.
The murder of Kirk, a divisive conservative figure, has fueled sharp divisions. Supporters hailed him as a champion of free debate and conservative values, while detractors pointed to his Christian nationalist ideology and disparaging comments about immigrants, Black Americans, and his Islamophobia.
Read more: White House drafts order on political violence after Kirk killing
