Barack Obama is calling out what he sees as “dangerous” hypocrisy from the White House.
In a post on X, the 44th president slammed ABC’s decision to “indefinitely” cut Jimmy Kimmel Live! amid threats.
Kimmel was suspended after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to withdraw ABC’s broadcasting license during an interview.
“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.
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. https://t.co/uts7JpJZzN
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 18, 2025
The former president also shared a Vox article titled “Let’s be Clear About What Happened to Jimmy Kimmel.”
“Let’s be clear about what just happened: Jimmy Kimmel, a prominent late-night comedian, was just taken off the airwaves because the Trump administration didn’t like what he had to say—and threatened his employer until they shut him up,” the article reads.
The Daily Beast has reached out to representatives of Obama for comment.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!was pulled off the air on Wednesday following comments made by the TV star about the murdered right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
Carr referenced Kimmel’s comments on slain Kirk in an interview with conservative YouTuber Benny Johnson.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
That led to Nexstar, which owns ABC affiliate stations across the U.S., deciding to pull Kimmel’s show. The president of the company’s broadcast division, Andrew Alford, called the talk show host’s comments “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.”
Trump turned to social media shortly after the announcement to celebrate Kimmel’s show being paused, calling it “Great News for America.”
“Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” Trump said. “Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible.”
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