Obama criticizes Trump administration after Jimmy Kimmel suspended from ABC

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has criticized the Trump administration after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! in response to remarks made by the late-night host about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

In a post shared Thursday on X, Obama accused President Donald Trump and his administration of taking cancel culture “to a new and dangerous level” by pressuring broadcasters and media companies to silence voices they oppose. “After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn't like,” Obama wrote.

The comments came after Walt Disney-owned ABC announced Wednesday that Kimmel’s late-night show would be indefinitely preempted. The decision followed criticism from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr, who suggested broadcasters risked penalties for airing Kimmel’s remarks on Kirk’s assassination.

Obama linked to an article by journalist Zack Beauchamp, which argued that Kimmel was removed from the airwaves not for ratings but because of political pressure from Trump’s administration.

Trump, however, rejected the censorship claims. Speaking at a joint press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump said the decision was based on Kimmel’s “bad ratings” and “lack of talent.” He also described Kimmel’s comments about Kirk as “horrible” and claimed the host should have been removed “a long time ago.”

The controversy has sparked debate in Washington, with Democratic lawmakers calling for Carr’s resignation and accusing the administration of undermining free speech.