CNN has reported that Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Man Show) has responded to President Trump’s calls for his removal following his comments during last week’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, during which he hosted a mock White House Correspondents’ Dinner paired with a comedic monologue. The situation has escalated since the shooting that occurred at the real-life event, with the President and his supporters citing his skit as “inciting political violence.”
This address of current events comes in the wake of the FCC’s direct challenge of ABC and parent company Disney’s station licenses; The networks were ordered to file for early renewal of their licenses within 30 days (determined to be by May 28, 2026), with this being the first time in decades that such moves have been executed by the FCC. mxdwn reported prior that small station license holder Bridge News has also been issued an early-renewal order, granting both stations a lengthy hearing process with the opportunity to respond in turn.
Kimmel’s commentary over the past two nights, while not addressing ABC and Disney’s conflict with the scrutiny of the Federal Government, addressed the words that have the President’s supporters up in arms. In particular, focus on his riff at the First Lady “glow[ing] like an expectant widow” last Thursday had sparked public interest. It wasn’t until Monday, two days after his WHCD skit aired, that the conversation started to call for his firing and show cancellation.
Via CNN, Kimmel said during his Monday monologue that “it was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am.” Further, addressing the vocal denouncement of his show and accusation of his desire for the president’s death by Trump’s allies, he added:
“It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination, and they know that. I’ve been very vocal for many years speaking out against gun violence in particular.”
His Tuesday night satirical monologue, per CNN, used King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to the White House to highlight the hypocrisy of a joke the president made about his marriage to first lady Melania Trump. During their arrival, Trump spoke about his parents’ 63-year-long marriage, turning to Melania to say, “That’s a record we won’t be able to match, darling, I’m sorry.”
In reference to his comments from Thursday’s skit, he asked the audience, “Wait a minute, did he just make a joke about his death?” Continuing, he said:
“Only Donald Trump would demand that I be fired for making a joke about his old age and then a day later, go out and make a joke about his old age.”
For Kimmel, this is not his first time facing trial-by-fire from President Trump and the FCC and responding in turn – Jimmy Kimmel Live! had been pulled off air and suspended indefinitely in September by ABC after comments regarding the alleged shooter of Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson. Later, in the same month, the show returned to air despite President Trump’s praise of the cancellation after critics called the situation one step closer to state-controlled media.
In a similar vein, CNN reported that opinions are mixed on the FCC entering previously established territory with their new content standard reviews and new demands. Concerns are rising over the potential implications of the President taking action against ABC, claiming that the push for control may be the beginning of a descent into “authoritarian censorship.”
This time, however, Disney and ABC are standing by Kimmel – responding to the FCC order for licensure renewal that they have been operating “in full compliance with FCC rules” and will “show that through the appropriate legal channels.”