Stephen Colbert has launched a fierce defence of Jimmy Kimmel after ABC abruptly suspended his late-night show, accusing President Donald Trump of pushing “blatant censorship”.Opening Thursday’s edition of The Late Show, Colbert declared to a stunned New York audience: “Tonight we are all Jimmy Kimmel.” He went on: “Yesterday after threats from Trump’s FCC chair, ABC yanked Kimmel off the air indefinitely. That is blatant censorship.”The CBS host, who himself is preparing to wrap up his tenure next year, accused Trump of behaving like a strongman. “With an autocrat, you cannot give an inch,” Colbert said. Before the taping, he added: “I’ll say this for my network. They wouldn’t have done this. Now regardless of what you think, that has already been done and how that looks, this is weak. This is blatant censorship.”
ABC’s shock move sparks political storm
Kimmel, 57, was suspended on Wednesday after he claimed during a monologue that Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer was “MAGA” — remarks that drew swift backlash from Trump allies and conservative broadcasters. Nexstar and Sinclair said they would stop airing his programme, while Trump-appointed FCC chair Brendan Carr branded Kimmel’s words “truly sick” and warned of repercussions for Disney-owned ABC. Trump celebrated the decision, posting on Truth Social: “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.” He dismissed Kimmel as having “ZERO talent” and called other late-night hosts “losers” with “horrible ratings”.But critics have accused the administration of silencing dissent. Barack Obama warned: “The current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.”Comedian Wanda Sykes wrote: “He didn’t end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza within his first week. But he did end freedom of speech within his first year.”
Broad condemnation
David Letterman called the move “managed media” and “ridiculous,” while actor Jean Smart described Kimmel’s remarks as “FREE speech, not hate speech”. Democrat Senator Adam Schiff accused Trump of mounting “the most blatant attacks on the free press in American history”.Meanwhile, conservative voices like podcaster Megyn Kelly defended ABC’s decision, arguing Kimmel had smeared Trump supporters with a “vile disgusting lie.”
