Jimmy Kimmel began his morning as ABC’s sharp-tongued late-night host, firing jokes at Donald Trump and his allies. However, by evening, he walked out of his Hollywood studio in casual clothes and stepped into a waiting car. ABC had just suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! after pressure from regulators and affiliates.
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The Associated Press filmed Kimmel in a baseball cap and backpack while staff guided him into a vehicle. Meanwhile, workers carried equipment out of the studio, a reporter delivered a live update, a woman rushed away, and protesters held signs that read “Trump Must Go Now!”
Protesters defended Kimmel outside the building. One demonstrator shouted:
“Jimmy Kimmel did nothing but point out some of the hypocrisy of these fascists, and for this he is being canceled and he is being threatened.”
On Monday, Kimmel criticized how Trump supporters responded to the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk. He told his audience:
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
Kimmel’s comments triggered backlash from broadcast officials. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and affiliate groups pushed ABC to act. As a result, the network suspended his show.
Trump praised the suspension online. In contrast, media analysts and free-speech advocates warned that ABC’s move could set a dangerous precedent. They stressed that punishing a host for political criticism weakens open debate.
The network has not announced how long the suspension will last. Still, the clash over Jimmy Kimmel Live! has already grown into a larger fight about freedom of speech in American media.
