During his July 25, 2019, broadcast, Stephen Colbert passionately defended fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, labeling President Donald Trump an “autocrat” in light of Kimmel’s show suspension. Colbert’s remarks came after ABC, a Disney subsidiary, pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely due to backlash surrounding Kimmel’s comments concerning the shooter who targeted conservative activist Charlie Kirk, suggesting a link to Trump’s MAGA movement.
“This is blatant censorship,” Colbert stated, addressing his audience on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” He emphasized, “With an autocrat, you cannot give an inch,” aligning himself staunchly with Kimmel and his team. Colbert, who has faced criticism from the Trump administration himself, dedicated much of the episode to issues of free speech.
Adding to the discussion, late-night icon David Letterman condemned ABC’s actions as “ridiculous.” During a discussion at The Atlantic Festival, he argued that firing someone due to fear of an “authoritarian criminal administration” is unacceptable. “We all see where this is going, correct?” Letterman remarked, lamenting the tightening grip on media.
Regarding ABC’s suspension of Kimmel’s show, the network clarified that Kimmel had not been permanently fired. Letterman drew parallels between this incident and CBS’s recent decision to cancel Colbert’s show, effective the following May, shortly after Trump’s critical remarks about Colbert. He pointed out that the FCC’s approval of an $8 billion merger involving CBS and Skydance Media might have influenced the situation.
“That was rude, that was inexcusable,” Letterman said, stressing that Colbert deserves recognition for his contributions to comedy and journalism. Letterman disclosed that he had communicated with Kimmel, who was reportedly recovering well after the incident.
In response to the controversy, Jon Stewart, another late-night figure, returned to “The Daily Show” to interview Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa. Stewart’s appearance highlighted the broader themes of free speech and media integrity. He had typically only hosted the show on Mondays, indicating the significance of the moment.
Meanwhile, Trump took to social media to celebrate Kimmel’s suspension, claiming it demonstrated ABC’s courage and criticizing Kimmel’s talent and ratings. He suggested that other networks should follow suit and hinted that the FCC could revoke licenses for stations that he perceives as “against” him.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris weighed in on the issue, labeling the situation an “outright abuse of power.” In a tweet, she urged vigilance against what she described as an assault on free speech, noting the capitulation of media corporations under pressure from the administration.
Overall, this incident reverberates through the late-night television landscape, underlining significant concerns about censorship and the state of free speech in media. As the landscape continues to shift, the responses from public figures emphasize the critical need for defending journalistic integrity amidst an increasingly polarized political climate.
Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC. Versant would become the new parent company of CNBC as part of Comcast’s planned spinoff.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/18/jimmy-kimmel-kirk-colbert-letterman-trump.html
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Publish Date: 2025-09-19 05:27:00
