Donald Trump criticized ABC before Jimmy Kimmel returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 23, 2025. He questioned the network’s decision, attacked the show’s performance and humor, and said he would “test ABC out on this,” invoking an earlier settlement. ABC had announced the return the day before, following conversations with Kimmel.
Why did ABC suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s show, and when did it return?
ABC suspended production on September 17, 2025, after Kimmel’s comments about public reactions to the killing of Charlie Kirk. On September 22, Disney, ABC’s parent company, announced the show would return the following Tuesday, September 23, after discussions with Kimmel. The return episode aired that day. ABC News reported the company’s statement: “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
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ABC said it had paused production to avoid further inflaming a tense situation and because it considered some of Kimmel’s comments ill-timed and insensitive. In his return monologue, Kimmel said, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.” He said he had not intended to blame a specific group, defended free expression, and criticized FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Those were the network’s and host’s explanations; they were not the same account of the controversy.
What did Trump say about Jimmy Kimmel’s return?
Before the return episode aired, Trump posted that he could not believe ABC had given Kimmel his job back, then criticized the show’s performance and humor. He also connected the dispute to his previous lawsuit involving ABC, saying, as Axios reported: “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.”
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The $16 million figure is Trump’s characterization of the earlier settlement over comments by George Stephanopoulos. His reference to it should not be read as an independently verified account of the settlement terms. Axios also reported that Trump claimed ABC had told White House officials Kimmel’s show was canceled; that communication is likewise a claim attributed to Trump, not an established fact about what ABC told officials.
Did Trump say his administration pressured ABC?
No. On September 20, before ABC announced the show’s return, Trump denied that anyone in his administration had pressured the network to suspend Kimmel. Asked whether there had been pressure, he replied, “No, not at all.” In the same exchange, he attributed the suspension to Kimmel’s talent and the show’s ratings, and said he had seen a report that ABC had “lost millions of dollars” with Kimmel. The transcript does not identify that report or establish a ratings figure. The denial is Trump’s statement; by itself, it does not settle what prompted ABC’s decision.
Did every ABC station show Kimmel’s return?
No. ABC’s announcement did not guarantee uniform local broadcast carriage. Nexstar and Sinclair initially continued preempting the program on their stations. ABC News reported that viewers could access the show through Disney-owned streaming products and Hulu + Live TV, with full episodes available the next day on Hulu and Disney+. Local station decisions and streaming availability can change, so check current listings for your area.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened after the 2025 return?
ABC and Disney later litigated against the FCC and Carr over early review of broadcast licenses for eight ABC-owned stations. The parties disputed jurisdiction and ABC’s First Amendment claims. The Associated Press report on that dispute did not establish a final decision, and the litigation is a separate later development—not the reason ABC announced Kimmel’s return in September 2025.
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