Former President Barack Obama has publicly condemned the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, describing the move as a troubling example of government coercion aimed at silencing dissenting voices in the media.
In a statement posted on his verified social media account X (formerly Twitter), Obama criticized what he called the Trump administration’s dangerous escalation in threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they curtail or terminate commentators whose perspectives it disfavors. “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.
He further emphasized the constitutional implications of the situation, stating, “This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it.”
Obama’s remarks come after the announcement that ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be put on pause indefinitely following controversial comments made by Kimmel about the assassination of conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk. The controversy intensified when Nexstar Media Group, which owns local ABC affiliates, decided to preempt the show, effectively suspending its broadcast at the local level.
Kimmel’s contentious monologue criticized supporters of former President Donald Trump for attempting to distance themselves from the assassin of Kirk. “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” Kimmel said. “And they’re doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
This incident highlights the contentious battle over cancel culture and media freedom in the United States, with Obama sharply contrasting his fight against misinformation and censorship with what he perceives as the Trump administration’s aggressive regulatory tactics.
Obama, who has appeared on Kimmel’s show multiple times including a joint Q&A event with President Joe Biden, amplified concerns by sharing an article labeling the suspension as “Trump’s most brazen attack on free speech yet.”
No immediate response was available from ABC or the White House regarding Obama’s comments, but the issue continues to stir debate among media organizations and political commentators alike about the boundaries of free expression, government influence, and corporate compliance with political pressures.
This development raises vital questions about the future role of media companies in defending journalistic independence and the First Amendment against regulatory intimidation.