Millions of Americans tuned in on Sept. 23 to watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! return to ABC following its nearly weeklong suspension. But just as fans prepared for Kimmel’s comeback, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social with a blistering post aimed squarely at ABC — threatening to test the network in court and hinting at another multimillion-dollar payout.
Trump’s outburst, coming less than an hour before Kimmel’s first new episode back on the air, was both a continuation of his long-running feud with the press and a new escalation of political pressure on a major broadcaster.
Trump’s Truth Social Tirade
In his post, Trump blasted ABC for reversing its decision to suspend Kimmel “indefinitely,” framing the host’s reinstatement as proof of liberal bias.
“I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there. Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE.”
He then invoked his recent legal history with ABC:
“He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings.”
The $16 Million Precedent
Trump’s post references the $16 million libel settlement he won against ABC in December 2024. That case stemmed from comments made by Good Morning America anchor George Stephanopoulos, which Trump’s attorneys argued had defamed him.
By citing the settlement, Trump was signaling two things:
He believes ABC remains vulnerable to legal attacks.
He views Kimmel — a frequent critic in his monologues — as fertile ground for another lawsuit framed around alleged bias.
For Trump, legal battles with media companies aren’t just about reputation; they are also financial and political weapons.
Trump’s History of Media Clashes
Trump’s threat against ABC is hardly an isolated episode. For decades, he has used litigation and public campaigns to challenge news organizations that criticize him.
1980s–2000s: Trump repeatedly threatened libel suits against New York tabloids and biographers, often without filing. The tactic built his reputation as a litigious businessman.
2016 Presidential Campaign: Trump clashed with Fox News over moderator Megyn Kelly, publicly feuding with the network while benefiting from massive coverage.
2018: Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against CNN over coverage of his claims about Russian interference. The case was dismissed, but it underscored his strategy of turning negative press into political fuel.
2020: During his re-election campaign, Trump’s team sued The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN for opinion pieces critical of him. Those suits largely failed but rallied his base.
2024: The $16 million settlement with ABC gave Trump a tangible victory and bolstered his narrative that “fake news” can be punished in court.
Trump has also taken aim directly at late-night hosts. He has called Stephen Colbert “talentless,” Seth Meyers “a stutterer with no ratings,” and Jimmy Fallon “pathetic” after Fallon apologized for playfully tousling Trump’s hair during the 2016 campaign.
The Timing: Kimmel’s High-Stakes Return
ABC’s decision to suspend Kimmel on Sept. 17, following FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s suggestion that affiliates could face regulatory pressure if they continued airing his show, sparked one of the biggest free-speech debates in recent television history.
Unions like the WGA and SAG-AFTRA condemned the suspension as government overreach.
Fellow late-night hosts — Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, and even Jay Leno — voiced support for Kimmel.
Over 400 celebrities signed an open letter, coordinated with the ACLU, demanding his reinstatement.
ABC reversed its decision on Sept. 22, announcing that Kimmel would return the following night after “thoughtful conversations” with the host.
Trump’s post, delivered less than an hour before the comeback episode aired, ensured that the story would not just be about Kimmel’s monologue — but about the president’s threats.
A Question of Free Speech
Trump’s comments highlight the precarious position of late-night comedy in 2025. Historically, satire has thrived on skewering presidents and politicians of all ᵴtriƥes. But Kimmel’s suspension — and the president’s subsequent threats — raise questions about whether corporate networks can withstand political pressure.
John Oliver, addressing Kimmel’s case on Last Week Tonight, warned:
“If the government can force a network to pull a late-night show off the air — and do so in plain view — it can do a lot worse.”
By threatening ABC again, Trump is effectively testing whether networks will continue to bend under pressure or push back to defend their hosts.
Kimmel’s Silence
Since the controversy began, Jimmy Kimmel himself has remained silent on social media and in the press. His Sept. 23 comeback episode was pre-recorded, meaning he could not directly respond to Trump’s comments in real time.
That leaves Wednesday’s broadcast as the earliest opportunity for Kimmel to address the president’s threat — if he chooses to at all. Historically, Kimmel has not shied away from tangling with Trump. In recent years, his monologues have covered everything from Trump’s indictments to his handling of the pandemic.
How Kimmel responds now could determine whether his return is seen as a symbolic win for free speech — or as a tentative step in an environment where every word carries risk.
Why This Matters
Trump’s last-minute attack underscores the high stakes of late-night TV in a polarized America. What was once dismissed as entertainment has become another battleground in the culture war — with presidents, regulators, networks, and comedians all vying for influence.
For ABC, Trump’s threat raises the specter of more legal battles and financial costs. For Kimmel, it’s a reminder that his jokes now carry political consequences that extend all the way to the Oval Office.
Donald Trump’s threat to “test ABC out” came at the exact moment Jimmy Kimmel prepared to reintroduce himself to audiences after a suspension that many feared would be permanent.
The irony is striking: Kimmel’s show was pulled for remarks about political pressure, reinstated after a firestorm over free speech, and then immediately threatened again by the president of the United States.
Whether Trump follows through on his threat remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Kimmel’s return is no longer just about late-night comedy. It’s about whether America’s biggest media companies are prepared to defend their talent — and the principle of free expression — in the face of direct presidential intimidation.
