Jimmy Kimmel has come out on top in a surprising new poll, beating Donald Trump in popularity following the late-night host’s temporary suspension from his show. The results, published by the Economist and YouGov, showed Kimmel with a slight net positive favourability rating, while Trump recorded a significant deficit.
According to the survey, conducted between 26 and 29 September among 1,656 US adults, Kimmel achieved a net favourability of +3, with 44 percent of respondents viewing him positively and 41 percent negatively. In contrast, Trump stood at -13, with 54 percent saying they viewed him unfavourably compared to 41 percent favourably. That difference left Trump trailing Kimmel by 16 points, a striking outcome considering Kimmel’s career as a comedian rather than a political figure.
The results follow a heated standoff in mid-September, when ABC suspended Kimmel after he criticised the Trump administration’s response to the killing of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk. The Federal Communications Commission, led by Trump loyalist Brendan Carr, threatened to revoke the licences of ABC affiliates unless the network acted. That decision sparked widespread outrage, protests, and calls to boycott Disney, ABC’s parent company.
Within six days, ABC reinstated Kimmel, and by late September, most affiliates had resumed broadcasting his show. Trump initially praised Kimmel’s suspension as “great news for America” but lashed out after the reinstatement, attacking ABC as “a true bunch of losers.”
Kimmel’s return to the air brought one of the biggest moments of his career, as his first monologue back drew more than 15 million views on YouTube in its first 16 hours. In the speech, Kimmel defended his remarks, stressing he never intended to make light of Kirk’s murder, and called his suspension “anti-American.” He added, “This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
The poll results highlight the fallout of the controversy, leaving Trump facing yet another unexpected challenger in the court of public opinion, not a politician, but a late-night comedian.
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