United States President, Donald Trump, has hinted that some television networks may lose their broadcast licences, after ABC suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel in the wake of his comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The Disney-owned network confirmed on Wednesday evening that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be taken off air indefinitely, following public uproar over the comedian’s remarks earlier in the week.
Kimmel, 57, suggested on Monday that the suspect accused of fatally shooting Kirk could be linked to Trump’s “Maga gang,” despite Utah authorities stating that the alleged gunman was motivated by leftist ideology.
He also mocked the president’s response to the tragedy, likening it to “how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
Though Kimmel later condemned the attack on Instagram and sent condolences to the Kirk family, the fallout was swift.
Nexstar Media, one of America’s largest station owners, said it would stop airing his show, describing his remarks as “offensive and insensitive.”
Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One after a UK state visit, seized on the controversy, claiming the media had long been biased against him.
“They give me only bad publicity. I would think maybe their licence should be taken away,” he told reporters.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump ally, applauded ABC’s suspension and hinted that further action may follow.
“We’re going to continue to hold broadcasters accountable to the public interest,” he said on Fox News.
Still, the FCC’s power is limited — it regulates network broadcasters like ABC but has little reach over cable or streaming platforms.
Legal experts note that the First Amendment would make it nearly impossible for licences to be revoked simply over political disagreements.
The suspension drew sharp criticism across Hollywood and political circles. Former president Barack Obama warned of a dangerous precedent, accusing the Trump administration of weaponising regulation to silence critics.
Actors including Ben Stiller and Jean Smart voiced support for Kimmel, while rival late-night host Stephen Colbert called the move “blatant censorship.”
Hollywood unions, including the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, also condemned the suspension as an attack on free speech.
But some commentators disagreed. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy said Kimmel was facing “consequences, not cancel culture,” while Fox’s Greg Gutfeld argued the host had deliberately misled viewers about Kirk’s killer.
Meanwhile, Sinclair Broadcasting announced it would air a special tribute programme for Kirk in place of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Friday. Kirk, 31, was shot dead earlier this month while speaking at Utah Valley University.
His widow, Erika Kirk, has since been appointed as head of Turning Point USA, the conservative organisation her husband co-founded.
The suspect, a 22-year-old man, has been charged with aggravated murder, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
For now, the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! remains uncertain, caught between a deepening political battle, fierce debates about free speech, and an emboldened FCC under Trump’s watch.
