Conservatives against laughter

How the Jimmy Kimmela show became a victim of censorship and what it speaks of media policy in the United States

On September 17, the ABC television channel announced that he was taking off the air "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" -One of the most popular Leit-hut shows in the USA. It was officially suspended indefinitely, but in practice this may mean the end of the program that has been released since 2003. The reason was Kimmel's words about the right activist Charlie Kirke, killed last week.

Novyevropa tells the example of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" About how Trump promised to return freedom of speech, and instead established censorship.

"Gang Maga" and the murder of Kirk

On September 17, the ABC television channel, owned by The Walt Disney Company, announced the “suspension for an indefinite period” by Jimmy Kimmel. The reason was the statements of the host on the air of the murder of the ultra -right activist Charlie Kirk.

At first, Kimmel condemned the fact of the attack, but then added:

- On the weekend, we pierced the new bottom: the Maga gang is desperately trying to introduce this guy who killed Charlie Kirk, anyone, just more than one of them, and does everything possible to earn political points on this.

Then the presenter showed an excerpt with Donald Trump, who was asked about how he grieves about the death of Kirk. He in response began to talk about repairs in the White House. Kimmel noted that "an adult is not so mourning the killed friend, so a four -year -old child mourn the goldfish from the aquarium."

The words of the leader did not remain unreleased. In response, the chairman of the Federal Commission for Communications (FCC) Brendan Carr said in the podcast of conservative Benny Johnson that such statements could lead to sanctions. He warned that broadcasters should "take measures." Donald Trump himself wrote on the Truth Social social network that the suspension of the Kimmel show is “great news for America”:

- Congratulations to the ABC on the fact that they finally got the courage to do what they had to do. Kimmel has zero talent and ratings are worse than Kolbert, if it is possible. Now on Fake News NBC remained Jimmy and Seth, two full losers. Their ratings are also terrible. Come on, nbc !!!

Nexstar Media Group, the largest network of regional stations, announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live is cleaning up! from television stations belonging to her and partners. In a press release, the company called the leading words "offensive and insensitive." SINCLAIR BRODCAST Group, another major media network, called on Kimmel to bring public apologies and make a donation to the Kirk family and the organization of Turning Point USA. Instead of the SINCLAIR station program, a Necrologist about Kirk was shown.

The TV presenter himself did not give public comments. Kimmel's contract with ABC expires in May 2026. In an interview, he previously hinted at the possibility of retirement. Now the return of the show on the air remains in question.

Pressure mechanism

To understand why the decision on the suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" It turned out to be so fast, you need to take into account the balance of power in the American television industry.

Nexstar Media Group plays a key role. This is the largest operator of regional television channels in the United States. On her account are more than 200 stations, among them dozens of branches broadcast ABC. For several years, Nexstar has been completing a transaction to acquire a competitor Tegna Inc. If it takes place, the company's share in the market will exceed 80%. According to the Law of the Federal Commission for Communications (FCC), the limit is 39%. The implementation of the NexStar transaction requires a special resolution of the regulator and its head of Brendan Carra.

Carr himself openly declared his readiness to cancel the regulation and expressed dissatisfaction with "incomprehensible, artificial restrictions on the number of television stations that one company can own."

At the same time, the general director of Nexstar Perry Suk repeatedly praised Trump and publicly admitted that the control of the Republican Party over the government will help expand his company.

“The initiatives implemented by the Trump administration give local broadcasting companies the opportunity to expand coverage, erect competition conditions and compete more effectively with large technological companies and traditional large media companies.”

- Suk also said .

Nexstardeny the connection of the closure of the Kimmel show with the upcoming deal. The corporation argues that "the decision to remove the air was made unilaterally by the Higher Management of Nexstar, and before the adoption of this decision, they were not consulted either with the Federal Commission for Communications (FCC) or with any other state body."

Industry reaction

The decision on the suspension "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" It caused a violent reaction in the media industry and among the colleagues of the presenter. The largest union of actors and TV presenters-the American guild of film actors and TV presenters (SAG-AFTRA) -called this decision a threat of freedom of speech, and the guild of the scriptwriters of America (WGA) and the American federation of musicians (AFM) stated that we are talking about actual censorship. Also, Teamsters, uniting technical personnel and drivers on the set, expressed concern that the abolition of the show would hit hundreds of ordinary industry workers.

The host of The Late Show on CBS Stephen Kolber, who previously faced with censorship, publicly supported his colleague and said that "we are all Jimmy Kimmel."

John Stuart, the host of The Daily Show, released a special broadcast dedicated to the situation around Kimmel and the general topic of pressure on satire. Jimmy Fallon also supported his colleague in his show:

- Well, guys, the main news is that Jimmy Kimmel was removed from work on ABC after pressure from the federal communication commission, and everyone remained at a loss: “What the hell?”

Fallon emphasized that he knew the leader as a decent guy and hopes for his return.

The co -author of the series “Live” Damon Lindelof said that he would not work with Disney if Jimmy Kimmel is not restored. Actor Ben Stiller called the ABC decision wrong, and the comedian Wanda Sakes noted that although President Donald Trump was not able to agree on peace in Gaza or Ukraine, "he ended with freedom of speech during the first year of his presidency." Actress Gene Smart wrote that she was “in horror from the closing of the show”:

- What Jimmy said was a free speech, not a language of hatred. It seems that people want to protect freedom of speech only when it corresponds to their interests.

The former US President Barack Obama also spoke out . He noted that after many years of complaints about the abolition culture, the current administration “brought it to a new and dangerous level, regularly threatening measures against media companies if they do not shut up their mouths or will not dismiss reporters and commentators that are not like it.”

“It was precisely this kind of coercion by the government that it was intended to prevent the first amendment - and media companies should begin to resist, and not surrender to it,” the politician said.

"Freedom of speech" under Trump

The story with Kimmel illustrates the general intensification of pressure on journalists and the editorial office, which accompanies the second term of Donald Trump.

In fact, the first amendment to the US Constitution protects freedom of speech. The courts decided that it protects from pressure from the government to third parties and attempts to censorship. Despite this, Vice President Jay Di Wans said that at least "the first amendment protects many very unpleasant statements, but if you rejoice at Charlie Kirk’s death, you should not be protected from dismissal for the fact that you are a disgusting person."

Trump himself during the inauguration in January 2025 promised "immediately stop all government censorship and return freedom of speech to America." True, already in September 2025 he said that regulatory authorities should consider the possibility of recalling licenses from television companies that broadcast negative reports or comments about it.

“I read somewhere that 97% of the TV channels are configured against me, I get 97% of negative reviews and, nevertheless, I easily won. I think that perhaps they should take away the licenses ",

- said the US President.

Also in the winter of 2025, at the CPAC conference, Elon Musk said that “the left want to make a comedy illegal” and that because of them humor becomes impossible. His words parted in social networks under the slogan of Legalize Comedy. But only after the closing of the show, Kimmel Musk did not protect the right to jokes and only wrote that "Jimmy Kimmel is disgusting."

A large -scale media pressure campaign in the United States has been actively continuing for more than six months. Journalists of major publications note that sources began to refuse comment even on neutral topics. The Columnist The New York Times Ezra Klein wrote :

-As reporters, we now have experience-and many people in this profession talked about this-when sources who do nothing bad, but are simply experts in some area, say: “I do not want me to be quoted more. I do not want them to chase me. "

Also in October 2024, Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against CBS and her maternal company Paramount, accusing them of an interview with his rival Kamaly Harris for the 60 Minutes program "was falsified and mounted in such a way as to cause him damage in the elections." In July 2025, Paramount agreed to resolve the case by paying $ 16 million, which, under the terms of the agreement, will go to create the future presidential library of Trump. After that, Stephen Kolber on his evening show called this payment “Big Fat Bribe”. Already on July 17, 2025, CBS unexpectedly announced the termination of the "Evening Show" since May 2026, emphasizing that the decision is connected exclusively with finances.

Also in January 2025, Trump filed claims against the New York Times, accusing the publication of “false information” about his business and the campaign. He later filed similar claims about slander against Dow Jones, News Corp, Murdok Rupert and two Wall Street Journal reporters.

In addition, in February 2025, the White House threatened the Associated Press with a restriction on access to key sites like an oval cabinet and an Air Force One board if the agency does not use the term “Gulf of America” instead of the “Mexican Gulf”. In response to February 21, AP filed a lawsuit against representatives of the administration, accusing them of violating the freedom of the press. Already on April 8, the federal judge temporarily ordered the White House to restore access to AP reporters to presidential events. However, on June 6, the Court of Appeal partially canceled this decision, leaving the White House the opportunity to limit the presence of the agency in “closed” spaces, but maintaining access to more public events.

Since the beginning of the year, the New York Times has been drawing a parallel between Donald Trump and Richard Nixon's policies. Like Nixon in the 1970s, Trump and his team call journalists “liars” and “elites”, threaten television channels through licenses of the Federal Commission for Communications (FCC) and seek to reduce the financing of “liberal” media. NYT emphasizes that now the threat can be even more serious than before, because trust in the traditional press has weakened, and the president has the support of loyal cable channels and social networks.