Jimmy Kimmel and President Trump

President Donald Trump’s contentious relationship with U.S. news organizations has led to a host of legal battles and disputes, the latest of which came with ABC’s suspension and — days later — return of the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show.

Trump had celebrated the suspension of Kimmel, a veteran late-night comic and frequent critic of the president and his policies, calling it “great news for America.”

Kimmel was pulled last week after a monologue included a reference to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and compared Trump’s grief to “how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish.”

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, said his agency had a strong case for holding Kimmel, ABC and its parent company Walt Disney Co., accountable for spreading misinformation.

By Monday, ABC said the show would be back on starting Tuesday. But Nexstar and Sinclair — two of ABC’s largest affiliate owners, which had denounced Kimmel last week — said they would not carry his show on their stations.

Sept. 22: ABC reinstates Kimmel’s late-night show

ABC said in a statement that the decision to reinstate the show came after days of “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel, who has hosted his show on ABC since 2003.

Kimmel broke his silence Tuesday with an Instagram post, sharing a picture of himself with the late television producer and free speech advocate Norman Lear. “Missing this guy today,” he wrote.

Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Kirk, said in a statement on X: “Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it’s their mistake to make.”


Sinclair Broadcast Group said it would keep Kimmel off its stations while continuing discussions with ABC. Nexstar Media Group said it is seeking “assurances that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”

Word of Kimmel’s return came after hundreds of movie, TV and stage stars as well as comedians, directors and writers added their names to an open letter Monday from the American Civil Liberties Union that says it is “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”