TOI correspondent from Washington: An epic battle on free speech is unfolding in America after ABC defiantly reinstated late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to his show and he immediately skewered Donald Trump , triggering the US President into another bout of fury.
After spending a significant portion of his monologue expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from fellow late-night hosts , friends, and even unexpected figures from the political right who defended his right to free speech, Kimmel taunted Trump, saying the President's attempt to "cancel" him, had backfired and "forced millions of people to watch the show, and the President “might have to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now."
He also ridiculed Trump throughout the show for his tirade about the common painkiller tylenol causing autism, a claim that has little scientific basis, with the President’s bumbling presentation providing comedic gold dust for late-night comedians.
ABC's defiance and Kimmel's mockery infuriated Trump, who accused the comedian of being a Democrat partisan and threatened to again sue the network, which had earlier coughed up $ 16 million to settle a case involving news anchor George Stephanopoulus. ”He (Kimmel) is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative,” Trump raged.
The US President has been after liberal leaning late-night hosts who have been feasting on Trump fumbles and flubs for years. “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE,” he fumed, hours after Kimmel racked up record ratings on Tuesday night although some television broadcast groups, including Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group tuned him out, supporting the MAGA contention that his comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were offensive.
Before he lit into Trump, a tearful Kimmel clarified at the start of his show that it was never his intention to trivialize the death of a young man, stating he had posted a message of compassion for the family and he did not intend to blame any specific group for the actions of a "deeply disturbed individual.” But he also lashed out at the FCC, saying its Chairman Brendan Carr's threats to shut him up is a "direct violation of the First Amendment" and a "dangerous" precedent unbecoming of America.
Trump has long complained that he has been subjected to more jokes than his political opponents. Research from organizations like the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University has found that Trump has indeed been the subject of a significantly higher number of jokes than any other president in their decades-long studies.
For instance, an analysis of jokes told by Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon -- both on Trump's enemies list -- during a specific period in 2020 found that a staggering 97% of their jokes about presidential candidates targeted Trump. But media mavens say Trump provides more comedic material that any other president: his unique persona, unconventional style, frequent public statements, and use of social media has become cannon fodder for comedians.
After spending a significant portion of his monologue expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from fellow late-night hosts , friends, and even unexpected figures from the political right who defended his right to free speech, Kimmel taunted Trump, saying the President's attempt to "cancel" him, had backfired and "forced millions of people to watch the show, and the President “might have to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now."
He also ridiculed Trump throughout the show for his tirade about the common painkiller tylenol causing autism, a claim that has little scientific basis, with the President’s bumbling presentation providing comedic gold dust for late-night comedians.
ABC's defiance and Kimmel's mockery infuriated Trump, who accused the comedian of being a Democrat partisan and threatened to again sue the network, which had earlier coughed up $ 16 million to settle a case involving news anchor George Stephanopoulus. ”He (Kimmel) is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative,” Trump raged.
The US President has been after liberal leaning late-night hosts who have been feasting on Trump fumbles and flubs for years. “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE,” he fumed, hours after Kimmel racked up record ratings on Tuesday night although some television broadcast groups, including Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group tuned him out, supporting the MAGA contention that his comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were offensive.
Before he lit into Trump, a tearful Kimmel clarified at the start of his show that it was never his intention to trivialize the death of a young man, stating he had posted a message of compassion for the family and he did not intend to blame any specific group for the actions of a "deeply disturbed individual.” But he also lashed out at the FCC, saying its Chairman Brendan Carr's threats to shut him up is a "direct violation of the First Amendment" and a "dangerous" precedent unbecoming of America.
Trump has long complained that he has been subjected to more jokes than his political opponents. Research from organizations like the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University has found that Trump has indeed been the subject of a significantly higher number of jokes than any other president in their decades-long studies.
For instance, an analysis of jokes told by Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon -- both on Trump's enemies list -- during a specific period in 2020 found that a staggering 97% of their jokes about presidential candidates targeted Trump. But media mavens say Trump provides more comedic material that any other president: his unique persona, unconventional style, frequent public statements, and use of social media has become cannon fodder for comedians.
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