Donald Trump has reignited his conflict with ABC, demanding the immediate dismissal of host Jimmy Kimmel. The reason was a joke Kimmel made about First Lady Melania Trump, which provoked a strong reaction from the former president’s supporters and a new wave of criticism directed at the channel. Despite the pressure, Disney, which owns ABC, has not distanced itself from Kimmel and continues to produce his show.
On Thursday morning, Trump published a sharp statement on Truth Social in which he called Kimmel ‘not funny’ and accused ABC of supporting the host despite low ratings. Later, in an interview with Newsmax, he stated that the network is ‘taking a risk’ by keeping Kimmel on air and recalled his lawsuit against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos, which was settled with a $16 million payout.
Pressure on the channel
The situation escalated after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), headed by Trump supporters, launched an early review of the licenses of eight ABC stations. Officially, the reason given was an audit of Disney’s diversity and inclusion initiatives; however, many observers saw the regulator’s actions as a response to the refusal to fire Kimmel. Disney stated that its stations comply with all FCC requirements and is ready to defend its interests in court.
The Trump administration insists that the FCC’s actions are not related to pressure on the network but are part of a planned review. However, the commission’s only Democratic member called the situation ‘harassment’ and an attempt to force Disney to comply with White House demands.
Reaction and consequences
Kimmel’s joke about Melania Trump was delivered against the backdrop of an incident outside the building where the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was taking place. Afterward, the First Lady publicly called on ABC to take a stance regarding the host’s remarks, while Trump increased pressure on the network. In response, organizations advocating for freedom of speech expressed concern about the administration’s interference in the channel’s editorial policy.
Kimmel himself has not commented on the FCC situation in his recent broadcasts, but he continued to criticize Trump in his usual manner. In one episode, he noted that the relationship between Donald and Melania had become noticeably closer, joking that it was thanks to him.
Conflict context
The conflict between Trump and Kimmel has lasted for several years, but the current episode is one of the most intense. According to lawyers, Disney has every chance of defending its licenses in court. Meanwhile, the situation around ABC and Kimmel remains under close scrutiny both by authorities and by public organizations monitoring freedom of speech in the US.
