ABC's sudden suspension of Jimmy Kimmel from his late-night show has ignited widespread alarm in the media landscape, highlighting the intensifying influence of President Donald Trump over broadcast networks.
The decision followed Kimmel's on-air comments regarding the accused killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, prompting swift intervention from the Federal Communications Commission under Trump appointee Brendan Carr.
Carr publicly threatened to revoke broadcast licenses from stations airing what he termed "garbage," escalating tensions around free expression.
This incident marks the second such action by ABC's parent company, Walt Disney, since Trump's re-election.
Earlier, in December, ABC News settled a lawsuit from Trump with a $15 million donation to his presidential library over remarks by anchor George Stephanopoulos related to sex abuse allegations.
Major outlets have adjusted their operations post-Trump's victory, aiming for less confrontational coverage.
Companies like CBS, Meta Platforms, and editorial boards at the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times have implemented changes to foster ideological balance.
Victor Pickard, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School, observed a broader trend.
“There is a continued lurch to the right throughout much of our major media in the United States right now,” he said.
“I expect to see more of this to come. There's no countervailing force against it.”
Steve Kroft, former “60 Minutes” correspondent, expressed deep concern.
"They're all terrified," he said, pointing to the administration's retaliatory approach targeting news outlets.
These shifts coincide with corporate maneuvers involving Trump allies.
Skydance Media, led by David Ellison — son of billionaire GOP donor Larry Ellison — secured FCC approval for its Paramount acquisition, promising diverse perspectives on CBS.
Paramount also settled a $16 million lawsuit from Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris.
Late-night television has long intertwined with politics, evolving from light-hearted jabs to pointed satire.
Pioneers like Steve Allen and Johnny Carson used humor to expose political absurdities, influencing public opinion significantly—Carson’s Watergate mentions notably dented Richard Nixon’s approval ratings.
Presidents from John F. Kennedy onward embraced appearances on shows like The Tonight Show, viewing them as vital for connecting with voters.
Bill Clinton’s saxophone performance on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1992 galvanized young and Black audiences, while Barack Obama’s 2009 visit to Jay Leno marked a sitting president’s debut.
Yet, Trump diverges sharply from this tradition.
His pre-presidency image was forged through late-night mockery of his personal and business life, fostering resentment.
He has repeatedly criticized hosts like Kimmel, once calling for the return of Carson despite the comedian’s long-ago passing.
Recent events, including CBS’s July cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show — framed as financial but widely seen as yielding to corporate pressures amid Paramount’s Skydance deal — underscore the genre’s vulnerability.
Nexstar Media, owner of many ABC affiliates, preempted Kimmel in favor of Kirk specials, navigating its own FCC-dependent merger with Tegna.
As fractured audiences erode profits, late-night persists as a truth-telling outlet, even as Trump warns from Air Force One:
When you go back and take a look, all they do is hit Trump. They’re not allowed to do that! They are an arm of the Democratic party.
The suspension triggered Disney’s stock dip and subscriber losses, prompting peers like Jimmy Fallon and Jon Stewart to adapt their satire cautiously, reflecting the high stakes in this evolving media dynamic.