Why Jimmy Fallon refuses to risk politics on ‘The Tonight Show’

Fallon says ‘The Tonight Show’ will avoid politics after Kimmel’s controversy left late night shaken

Jimmy Fallon has made it clear that he has no intention of letting politics dominate The Tonight Show, even as late night television faces one of its most turbulent periods in years.

Speaking in a CNBC interview, Fallon insisted his show had “never really been political” and that he planned to keep it that way. “We hit both sides equally, and we try to make everybody laugh, and that’s really the way our show works,” he said. “Our monologues are kind of the same that we’ve been doing since Johnny Carson was hosting. I just keep my head down and make sure the jokes are funny.”

Fallon’s comments come just weeks after Jimmy Kimmel’s late night future was thrown into chaos when his show was briefly pulled following remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel accused what he called the “MAGA gang” of using Kirk’s death for political gain, sparking outrage from major broadcasters and even attracting the attention of FCC chair Brendan Carr, who suggested that networks take action.

Kimmel returned to air days later, but not before Donald Trump weighed in on Truth Social, branding him “an arm of the DNC” and threatening that ABC’s decision to keep him could lead to “major legal trouble.” The incident left a mark on late night, with networks and comedians suddenly forced to weigh the risks of political commentary against the value of staying entertaining.

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In contrast, Fallon is carefully positioning himself as an entertainer who is steering clear of direct political battles. “I have great writers, and we’re just trying to make the best show we possibly can and entertain everybody,” he explained. While Kimmel continues to attract attention for his sharp takes, Fallon appears determined to keep his distance from anything that could cost him airtime.

The divide has sparked debate online, with some praising Fallon for focusing on comedy, while others accuse him of being too cautious at a time when audiences expect late night voices to take a stand. But with Kimmel’s controversy still fresh in industry memory, Fallon seems content to let others shoulder the political fallout.

Whether this strategy helps Fallon protect his spot or makes him look out of touch remains to be seen, but his message is clear: ‘The Tonight Show’ won’t be diving into the political battlefield any time soon.