Trump Doubles Down on Jimmy Kimmel Comments — Claims Host Was “Fired” for Lack of Talent

Following ABC’s decision to temporarily halt production of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*, President Trump intensified his criticism of Jimmy Kimmel. During a press conference, Trump described the situation as Kimmel being “fired” due to declining viewership and a lack of skill.

According to Trump, Jimmy Kimmel lost his job mainly because of low viewership. He also criticized Kimmel for making a disrespectful comment about Charlie Kirk, and stated that Kimmel isn’t very talented. Trump suggested that while Kimmel can claim free speech, the real reason for his situation is his poor performance.

— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) September 18, 2025

According to Trump, Jimmy Kimmel lost his job primarily because his show wasn’t performing well in the ratings. Trump also stated that Kimmel made a disrespectful comment about Charlie Kirk and doesn’t consider him a talented individual, suggesting the firing was due to a lack of skill rather than any issue of free speech.

This statement follows Trump’s previous announcement praising the decision, in which he called it “Great News for America” and noted that ABC had finally taken action.

The Reality Behind the Headlines

I’ve been following the news about Jimmy Kimmel, and while President Trump is saying he was fired, it’s actually a bit more complicated than that. From what I understand, ABC hasn’t actually fired Jimmy Kimmel or cancelled his contract. It seems they’ve temporarily taken *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* off the air, and Disney and ABC are still figuring out what happens next. It’s all very much in progress, and not a simple firing like some are claiming.

Recent industry reports indicate that Disney’s distribution partners were hesitant to broadcast Kimmel’s show after he made controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk. Until this issue is settled, the show will not air.

Although the show isn’t currently on television, Jimmy Kimmel is still contracted with ABC. This means ABC could potentially bring the show back if they can reach agreements with their local stations and advertisers.

Free Speech or Failed Ratings?

Trump recently addressed accusations that he influenced the temporary removal of Jimmy Kimmel from the air, suggesting it was a blow to free speech. Some in Hollywood and the media argued the suspension wasn’t due to declining viewership over time, but was instead a politically driven consequence of Kimmel’s critical statements.

Trump disagreed with the idea that Kimmel’s departure was due to pressure, arguing instead that Kimmel simply wasn’t talented enough and his show wasn’t popular. Trump framed Kimmel’s exit as a result of his own shortcomings, not outside influence, stating he was “fired for lack of TALENT.”

Some people claim this situation is censorship, but Trump argues it’s simply the result of a late-night host losing viewers and the market responding accordingly.

A Broader Trend in Late-Night

No matter what the contracts say, Trump is right about one thing: *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* hasn’t been doing well in the ratings for a long time. Even before the recent suspension, the show wasn’t as popular as it used to be. It was behind Stephen Colbert (whose show is now cancelled) and struggling to compete with Jimmy Fallon for viewers, as overall audience numbers have been falling.

Traditional late-night television is becoming less popular. Younger viewers are now getting their entertainment from podcasts, YouTube creators, and streaming services, which has significantly reduced the impact of late-night shows.

Trump’s Larger Point

For Donald Trump and those who support him, Jimmy Kimmel’s recent suspension seems to prove their long-held point. Trump has consistently claimed that late-night talk shows have become overly political and focused on attacking people, rather than being funny, and that this has turned off many viewers.

Trump said Jimmy Kimmel was “fired” because he wasn’t talented, suggesting Kimmel’s break from television is due to focusing on political commentary instead of entertainment. Regardless of whether Kimmel comes back to TV, the situation has already made a statement: a prominent critic of Trump has been effectively silenced, at least temporarily.

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2025-09-18 19:57