Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday, following a state visit to the UK, Trump said:

“I have read some place that the networks were 97% against me, again, 97% negative, and yet I won and easily [in last year’s election]. They give me only bad publicity and press. I mean, they’re getting a licence. I would think maybe their licence should be taken away.”

The remarks came days after ABC suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel under pressure from Trump’s administration and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Kimmel had suggested in a monologue that Trump supporters were attempting to deflect blame for the murder of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead at Utah Valley University on 10 September.

Kimmel described Trump’s reaction to the death of his 31-year-old ally as resembling “how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.” He later condemned the attack and expressed sympathy for Kirk’s family, but critics said his comments were insensitive.

FCC Pressure and Network Fallout

FCC chair Brendan Carr accused Kimmel of “the sickest conduct possible” and warned that broadcasters like Disney-owned ABC faced regulatory consequences if they did not act. “We’re going to continue to hold these broadcasters accountable to the public interest — and if broadcasters don’t like that simple solution, they can turn their licence in to the FCC,” Carr told Fox News.

Nexstar Media, one of the largest US station owners, announced it would not air Kimmel’s show “for the foreseeable future,” calling his remarks “offensive and insensitive.” The company is currently seeking FCC approval for a $6.2bn merger with Tegna. Sinclair, the biggest ABC affiliate group, said it would replace Kimmel’s Friday slot with a remembrance programme dedicated to Kirk.

Free Speech Backlash

The suspension has sparked a fierce debate over freedom of speech. Critics, including former President Barack Obama, said the administration was weaponising regulation to silence opponents. “The Trump administration has taken cancel culture 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 warned.

Late-night hosts and Hollywood figures also voiced support for Kimmel. Stephen Colbert called the suspension “blatant censorship,” while Jon Stewart mocked the climate of intimidation, sarcastically branding himself a “patriotically obedient host” on The Daily Show. Stewart also interviewed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, who compared the situation to crackdowns on free speech in the Philippines under Rodrigo Duterte. “It’s both deja vu and PTSD,” Ressa said.

Actor Ben Stiller and Hacks star Jean Smart expressed outrage, while the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild condemned the suspension as a violation of constitutional rights.

Divided Reactions

Not all agreed the suspension amounted to censorship. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy argued Kimmel faced “consequences for his actions,” while Fox host Greg Gutfeld accused him of misleadingly blaming Trump allies for Kirk’s death. British broadcaster Piers Morgan said the outrage over Kimmel was “understandable” and questioned why he was being treated as a “free speech martyr.”

Within the FCC itself, dissent has emerged. Democratic commissioner Anna Gomez criticised Carr’s hardline approach, saying: “An inexcusable act of political violence by one disturbed individual must never be exploited as justification for broader censorship or control.”

The Broader Context

Legal experts note that the US Constitution’s First Amendment prohibits the government from revoking broadcast licences over political disagreements. However, the chilling effect of regulatory threats has unsettled writers and media workers. “It’s heartbreaking,” said Joe Strazullo, a former Kimmel staff writer. “Nobody knows exactly what’s going on still and they’re working things out behind the scenes.”

As the debate rages, the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel has become a flashpoint in the wider struggle over press freedom, government influence, and the boundaries of political speech in America.