President Donald Trump threatened legal action against ABC on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, following the network’s decision to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live after the late-night show was suspended last week over controversial comments about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump expressed disbelief that ABC gave Kimmel his job back after the White House was reportedly told the show was canceled. Trump characterized Kimmel as playing “99% positive Democrat GARBAGE” and suggested this constituted an illegal campaign contribution.
The president referenced his recent legal victory against ABC, noting that his previous lawsuit against the network resulted in a $16 million settlement. ABC News settled after anchor George Stephanopoulos incorrectly stated on air that Trump had been found liable for rape. Trump indicated this new situation “sounds even more lucrative” and declared his intention to test ABC on the matter.
Kimmel’s suspension occurred after Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr appeared on a right-wing podcast and threatened to revoke the network’s license in response to jokes Kimmel made about the Republican response to Kirk’s death. The move triggered significant backlash from both sides of the political spectrum, with critics expressing concern about government agencies attempting to stifle the speech of comedians.
After several days, Disney, ABC’s parent company, reversed their decision and announced Kimmel would return to his regular late-night slot on Tuesday, September 23. The announcement angered many Trump supporters, with an executive producer of The Charlie Kirk show calling the decision a mistake, while others encouraged conservatives to flood the network with complaints.
Major affiliate groups Nexstar and Sinclair, controlling approximately 20 percent of local ABC affiliates, announced they would not air Kimmel’s comeback episode on their stations. Sinclair specifically demanded that Kimmel apologize and donate to Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization.
During his Tuesday night return, Kimmel addressed the controversy in an emotional monologue. He stated it was never his intention to make light of a murder or blame any specific group for the actions of what he described as a deeply disturbed individual. However, critics accused him of failing to provide a proper apology for the remarks that led to his suspension.
Conservative activist Jack Posobiec criticized Kimmel’s approach, suggesting the host was using the DARVO playbook of Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. Conservative pundit Scott Jennings accused Kimmel of using the phrase “MAGA gang” and lying about what happened, characterizing his response as pathetic.
Trump’s legal threats against ABC represent part of a broader pattern of litigation against media organizations. Last week, the president filed a $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times, though it was dismissed days later by a judge who noted that courts were not “a protected platform to rage against an adversary.”
In July, Trump sued The Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over its coverage of his ties to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The president has consistently targeted media outlets he perceives as critical of his administration or policies.
The controversy surrounding Kimmel’s suspension and reinstatement has drawn attention to free speech concerns and the role of government agencies in regulating media content. The FCC’s involvement in threatening license revocation over comedic content sparked debate about the appropriate boundaries of government oversight in entertainment programming.
Trump concluded his Truth Social post by suggesting ABC should let Kimmel “rot in his bad Ratings” rather than reinstating the host. The president characterized the network and its decision-makers as “a true bunch of losers.”
