RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 6 sourcesDonald Trump has many enemies. The ayatollahs of Iran, Democratic politicians across America, windmills, and the phrase "Is Pepsi OK?" — to name a few. But no feud seems to brew more consistent passion within the commander in chief than his vendetta against late-night comedy, particularly against ABC's Jimmy Kimmel .
It's easy to forget that before he was a plague on our politics, Trump was a caricature for "American rich guy." Three wives, lots of money, a golden toilet, and loads of opinions. He was a regular guest on talk shows, radio, and even late-night television.
One of the major early personal sacrifices of Trump's decision to enter the Republican primaries as a right-wing nativist in 2015 was a break with the mostly supportive, ostensibly liberal social and media circles that had surrounded him during his time as the proverbial king of Manhattan. Late-night shows began to mock him, parody his voice and image, and criticize his campaign — and later his presidency. Kimmel has consistently been among Trump's most vocal roasters, and throughout Trump's second administration, the president's censorious tendencies dovetailed with his fixation on late-night comedians.
It's a long feud, dating back more than a decade at this point, but here's a breakdown of the dispute between Trump and ABC's flagship comedian.
Three months after FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr ordered a review of ABC's licenses after Kimmel staged a mock White House Correspondents' Dinner, the network sued the administration .
"Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts," the network argued in the lawsuit. The lawsuit highlighted several of Trump's social media posts threatening the network's licenses, spanning years, as well as Trump claiming in 2025 that the network's late-night shows are "not allowed" to "hit Trump" as much as they do. Editor’s picks The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century
In the aftermath of a shooting at the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner, the Trump administration became fixated on a monologue Kimmel delivered days before. Given that a professional comedian had not been invited to deliver the traditional roast of the president at the event, Kimmel's show staged their own .
At one point, Kimmel joked that First Lady Melania Trump had a "glow like an expectant widow."
Kimmel had no way of knowing what would take place at the Correspondents' Dinner, but in its aftermath the first lady claimed that the joke had been a call to violence against the president and not — as most assumed — a comment on his advanced age and declining health.
"I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel's despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale," the president wrote on Truth Social. "Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC."
Kimmel responded on his show Monday, telling viewers that it was "obviously a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they're together. It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he's almost 80 and she's younger than I am." Kimmel noted that there had been no outrage about his televised roast, which aired Thursday night, two days before the dinner. Related Content Rosie O’Donnell Criticizes Trump, Pays Tribute to Hayden Panettiere as ‘Kimmel’ Guest Host Tupac Shakur Murder Trial Opens 30 Years After Rapper’s Death: ‘An Act of Revenge’ Trump Has Opened the Door for Putin to Make a Move on NATO Trump Scales Back Military Exercises to Please Kim Jong Un
The Trump administration was undeterred. Brendan Carr's Federal Communications Commission announced it would be directing ABC to file renewals for all their broadcast licenses within the month — a forceful investigative, potentially punitive message rarely invoked by the agency.
A few days later, Trump again called for Kimmel to be fired. "When is ABC Fake News Network firing seriously unfunny Jimmy Kimmel, who incompetently presides over one of the Lowest Rated shows on Television?" he wrote. "People are angry. It better be soon!!!"
"I have honestly lost count of how many times the president has demanded I be pulled off the air," Kimmel told his audience in November. "Talk about a snowflake, this guy. Every five weeks, he flips out and wants me fired."
The comments came in response to Trump's late-night rantings about Jimmy Kimmel Live !'s coverage of the Epstein files scandal. "Why does ABC Fake News keep Jimmy Kimmel, a man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS, on the air?" Trump raged . "Get the bum off the air."
Kimmel took it in stride. "How about this: I'll go when you go, OK? We'll be a team. Let's ride off into the sunset together like Butch Cassidy and the Suntan Kid … Until then, if I may borrow a phrase from you: Quiet, piggy."
Trump keeps attacking Kimmel, though, calling him a "horrible" host a month later. "That is very hurtful. I thought we were friends," Kimmel responded. "I don't know what's going on. He is really fixated. I'm starting to think he might have a crush on me."
In the aftermath of the assassination for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, right-wingers rushed to punish critics of the slain activist — forcing hundreds of people out of their jobs over even mild critiques of Kirk.
On Sept. 17, ABC and Nexstar announced that " Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be preempted indefinitely." Nexstar claimed that the suspension had been prompted by allegedly "offensive and insensitive" comments Kimmel made about Kirk. The decision came after public pressure from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, who threatened the network's broadcast licenses.
But Kimmel had not cr...
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