President Trump has doubled down on his remarks regarding Jimmy Kimmel after ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air indefinitely. Speaking at a press conference, Trump sharpened his critique of the late-night host, framing the move as a “firing” brought on by bad ratings and poor talent.
TRUMP: “Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else. And he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk. And Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person. He had very bad ratings and so, you know, you can call that free speech or… pic.twitter.com/Qyjm5z58Pd
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) September 18, 2025
“Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else,” Trump said. “And he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk. And Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person. He had very bad ratings and so, you know, you can call that free speech or not. He was fired for lack of TALENT.”
The statement builds on Trump’s earlier post celebrating the decision, where he declared it “Great News for America” that ABC had finally acted.
The Reality Behind the Headlines
While Trump is calling it a firing, the situation is technically more complex. ABC has not officially fired Jimmy Kimmel or terminated his contract. Instead, Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been pulled indefinitely, with sources indicating that Disney and ABC distributors are still working through next steps.
A screenshot of Jimmy Kimmel crying on TV after the election of Donald Trump – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
Industry reports suggest that Disney is facing pressure from distribution partners who balked at airing the show following Kimmel’s controversial comments about Charlie Kirk. Until that standoff is resolved, Kimmel’s program will remain shelved.
That means while the show is effectively off the air, Kimmel remains under contract, leaving open the possibility that ABC could attempt to bring him back if they can strike a deal with affiliates and advertisers.
Free Speech or Failed Ratings?
Trump’s latest comments also appear to be a direct response to claims from critics who allege he was somehow behind Kimmel being pulled as an attack on free speech. Hollywood unions, along with some media commentators, painted the suspension as politically motivated — a punishment for Kimmel’s controversial words rather than the result of years of sliding ratings.
Jimmy Kimmel speaks to Arnold Schwarzenegger on Jimmy Kimmel Live – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
But Trump pushed back on that framing, insisting that Kimmel’s real downfall was his lack of talent and poor audience numbers. By declaring that Jimmy Kimmel was “fired for lack of TALENT,” Trump positioned the move as the natural outcome of an unpopular host and a declining format, not the result of political pressure.
In short, while critics say this is about censorship, Trump says it’s about the market finally catching up to a late-night host who lost touch with his audience.
A Broader Trend in Late-Night
Regardless of the contractual fine print, Trump’s framing taps into a larger reality: Kimmel’s program has been struggling in the ratings for years. Even before the suspension, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was far from the dominant force it once aspired to be, trailing behind the now-cancelled Stephen Colbert and battling Jimmy Fallon for scraps of an audience in decline.
Stephen Colbert dances around with human needles – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
At the same time, late-night as a format has been shrinking. Younger audiences have moved to podcasts, YouTube, and streaming personalities, leaving traditional late-night shows with dwindling influence.
Trump’s Larger Point
For Trump and his supporters, Kimmel’s suspension validates years of criticism. Trump has long argued that late-night shows devolved into partisan attack platforms instead of comedy, alienating large swaths of the public in the process.
Donald Trump clasps hands with Sylvester Stallone – YouTube, SkyNews Australia
By claiming Jimmy Kimmel was “fired for lack of talent,” Trump frames the host’s absence as the natural consequence of prioritizing politics over entertainment. Whether or not Kimmel technically returns, the cultural moment is already locked in place: one of the loudest voices against Trump has been silenced, at least for now.
How do you feel about Trump’s Kimmel comments? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
UP NEXT: Donald Trump Cheers ABC Pulling Jimmy Kimmel Off the Air — President Predicted Kimmel Was “Next”
I think ABC is grateful for the excuse to be rid of him.