In the world of American politics, Donald Trump has demonstrated an adeptness for identifying and exploiting the vulnerabilities of his opponents. However, many of his victories appear to come at a steep cost. A notable example of this is the recent conflict involving late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, whose ousting appears to be resulting in backlash not only from the left but also from segments of the right, particularly those who vividly recall Trump’s fervent promises to uphold free speech during his campaign.
Furthermore, as highlighted by Tucker Carlson — an associate of Charlie Kirk — it is almost certain that Kirk would oppose the silencing of a Trump critic. The situation has been exacerbated by gross mischaracterizations of Kimmel’s remarks by FCC chair Brendan Carr, which effectively incited a frenzy on social media among right-wing supporters, many of whom were eager to take Carr’s comments at face value.
🚨🇺🇸🇮🇱 BREAKING: TUCKER CARLSON CONDEMNS Trump Administration officials using Charlie Kirk’s assassination to ELIMINATE FREE SPEECH protections pic.twitter.com/HtUQZi2iWt
— Legitimate Targets (@LegitTargets) September 18, 2025
The ramifications extend beyond just Trump’s administration; Disney also faced threats from various sources, including potential and actual viewers of Disney content on ABC. The pressure from Carr’s statements was particularly potent. He argued for local broadcasters to prioritize their community standards by threatening to pull Kimmel’s show until appropriate actions were taken to address the situation:
“Frankly, I think it’s past time that a lot of these licensed broadcasters themselves push back on Comcast and Disney, and say, ‘We are going to preempt—we are not going to run Kimmel anymore until you straighten this out,’” Carr asserted. “It’s time for them to step up and say this garbage—to the extent that that’s what comes down the pipe in the future—isn’t something that serves the needs of our local communities.”
**Update:** It seems some readers may not fully grasp the severity of Carr’s threat. Below is an excerpt from a New York Times article, “Trump Has Threatened Broadcast Licenses. Here’s How They Work”, detailing the issue further:
President Trump threatened on Thursday to revoke broadcasting licenses over late-night hosts who speak negatively about him, escalating an assault against the media. “They’re giving me all this bad press, and they’re getting a license,” Mr. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, following ABC’s suspension of Kimmel’s show. “I would think maybe their license should be taken away.”
Trump’s threats have placed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the spotlight, an agency primarily known for regulating telecommunications. Here’s what you should know about how broadcast licensing works…
The FCC can revoke a license under a rarely utilized public interest standard, which is subject to broad interpretation. “In exchange for obtaining a valuable license to operate a broadcast station using the public airwaves, each radio and television licensee is required by law to operate its station in the ‘public interest, convenience and necessity,’” the agency states on its website. “Generally, this means it must air programming that is responsive to the needs and problems of its local community.”
Telecom experts assert that this definition has historically included public affairs programming and vital local news. Although licenses are held by individual stations, the potential revocation of these licenses poses significant implications for major networks.
Mr. Carr has contended that he can withhold licenses from those not serving the public interest, including coverage biased against conservatives, while emphasizing this unique obligation broadcasters have to operate within the public interest constraint.
The FCC holds the licenses for stations within the Disney-owned ABC network, which comprises both directly owned Disney stations and affiliates that syndicate ABC content such as Kimmel’s show. Both major affiliate networks promptly demanded Kimmel’s removal following Carr’s comments:
The late-night host’s program was pulled from ABC after Kimmel made comments about Charlie Kirk’s passing. These comments caught the ire of Brennan Carr, leading him to suggest that the FCC might need to review broadcast licenses to ensure compliance with public interest standards.
Local news operators Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair, which own a significant number of ABC affiliate stations, pressured ABC into suspending Kimmel’s show; Sinclair’s vice chairman condemned Kimmel’s remarks as “inappropriate and deeply insensitive,” while Nexstar’s broadcasting division president described them as “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.”
Nexstar’s chief communications officer noted that the decision to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was taken “unilaterally by the senior executive team” without prior communication with the FCC or any government agency, according to a report by Variety.
This statement from Nexstar raises eyebrows, as the communication from Carr to ABC licensees was unequivocal — the threat of license revocation looms large.
Notably, many observers, including some on the right, did not find Kimmel’s comments to be offensive, and even ABC determined that he hadn’t said anything outrageous, but they worried about potential retaliation from Trump:
🚨Rolling Stone is now confirming that executives at ABC and Disney didn’t believe Kimmel said anything outrageous but were fearing retaliation from Trump. This is a blatant attack on free speech. pic.twitter.com/Jozg3ELKun
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) September 18, 2025
Moreover, Nexstar, the largest television station operator and a public entity, was likely compelled to comply given its ongoing merger negotiations, as outlined by LateNighter:
Nexstar is in the process of a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna. The acquisition, which would significantly bolster Nexstar’s portfolio, is currently under FCC review, led by Brendan Carr.
On Wednesday, Nexstar announced Kimmel’s preemption due to concern over “recent comments.” This channel ownership structure pressures ABC to make decisions aligned with its affiliates, as networks often rely on affiliates to maintain revenue streams.
Minutes after Nexstar’s announcement, ABC declared it would indefinitely suspend Kimmel’s show.
Even though the matter of the merger is noteworthy, the more pressing concern lies in the broader implications of potentially suspending broadcast licenses—a dangerous precedent indeed. Nevertheless, many reports have underscored the degree to which Nexstar and Sinclair are yielding to Carr’s sentiments in light of ongoing mergers and public regulatory scrutiny.
In a recent exclusive report by the Wall Street Journal, it was revealed that Disney briefly considered taking a stand:
Following the initial backlash, advertisers and affiliates voiced concerns over Kimmel’s show. Executives from Nexstar and Sinclair conveyed to network leadership that they would “indefinitely preempt” the show, which would significantly limit viewer reach. Kimmel had intended to address Carr’s comments, but after discussions among Disney’s senior leadership about the potential impact of his response, they feared exacerbating the situation.
Kimmel’s well-timed response could lead to dire consequences for ABC. The Journal notes:
ABC was planning a live episode featuring Kimmel but scrambled to satisfy advertisers after his show’s cancellation. Ad buyers threatened to shift funds to other programs or even request refunds.
Consequently, Disney is caught in a precarious position with multiple pressures converging, all stemming from Carr’s distortion of Kimmel’s statements and Trump loyalists mobilizing against the show. It’s important to remember that instances of corporate capitulation are not uncommon, with previous threats leading companies to comply under duress.
Democrats have expressed rightful outrage, yet their ability to respond effectively remains limited as midterm elections approach:
I call for Brendan Carr’s resignation. Censoring Jimmy Kimmel threatens the very foundation of free speech in our nation. Trump is creating an environment of intimidation that serves an authoritarian agenda. pic.twitter.com/NO6d7x8tPE
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) September 18, 2025
In a rare moment of agreement across the aisle, Pete Buttigieg pointed out:
What’s happening to Jimmy Kimmel encapsulates the interplay of power and politics. Any company attempting to navigate Trump’s game should be prepared for eventual consequences, as he will always demand more.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) September 19, 2025
In conclusion, the dynamics surrounding Jimmy Kimmel’s situation reflect a significant example of how a presidential administration can influence large media entities with relative ease. The potential for severe actions from the FCC combined with the economic pressures faced by Disney demonstrates a concerning trend where free speech is compromised in the face of political power plays. As we move forward, it is crucial to maintain vigilance over these developments, as they signify deeper implications for the future of discourse and expression in our society.
