Trump lashes out at ABC for reinstating Jimmy Kimmel’s show
text_fields
Washington: US President Donald Trump has launched another tirade against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and ABC after the network reinstated “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following a brief suspension.
In a Truth Social post, Trump accused ABC of putting itself “in jeopardy” by bringing Kimmel back on air. “Can't believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back,” he wrote, adding that the comedian’s audience was “gone” and that his “talent was never there”. Trump went on to say, “Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings.”
The President also branded Kimmel a mouthpiece for Democrats and claimed the show’s return amounted to an “illegal campaign contribution”. He further warned that his administration would “test ABC out on this”, recalling a past dispute in which he said the network had paid him USD 16 million. “A true bunch of losers!” he added.
Kimmel had been suspended last week after ABC affiliates raised objections to his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. On Monday, ABC said the show would return following “thoughtful conversations” with the host.
Disney, ABC’s parent company, said in a statement: “Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
Trump had already celebrated Kimmel’s suspension, falsely claiming the show had been cancelled. On September 17, he wrote on Truth Social: “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that's possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!.”
At a press conference in the UK last week, Trump again criticized the comedian, saying: “Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person. He had very bad ratings, and they should have fired him a long time ago He said a horrible thing about a gentleman called Charlie Kirk.”
Adding to the drama, comedian Matt Friend mocked Kimmel while impersonating Trump at the Emmy Awards earlier this week, quipping: I see the failing Jimmy Kimmel. How are you sir? Great to see you. Low ratings, really horrible.” The performance went viral online.