Donald Trump has once again thrown down the gauntlet, promising a legal showdown with ABC after the network reinstated late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following his suspension for lying about Charlie Kirk's assassination.
The Daily Mail reported that this drama kicked off on Sept. 15 when Kimmel, during a monologue, made comments about the MAGA community's response to Charlie Kirk's death, stirring a firestorm of criticism.
ABC quickly reacted by announcing last week that Kimmel's show would be sidelined indefinitely, a move prompted by intense pressure from affiliate operators like Nexstar Media, which threatened to drop the program entirely.
Sinclair and Nexstar executives demanded that ABC and Disney address the remarks, with Sinclair even pushing for a direct apology to the Kirk family and a personal donation to Turning Point USA, Kirk's nonprofit.
The backlash didn't stop there, as an FCC official, Brendan Carr, publicly criticized Kimmel and hinted at a potential investigation into both the host and ABC for the controversial statements.
Despite the initial hard line, Disney reversed course on Monday, lifting the indefinite hiatus amid significant pushback against Kimmel's suspension.
Kimmel made his comeback on Tuesday night, delivering an emotional monologue about free speech and clarifying that he never meant to mock Kirk's death, while expressing support for Kirk's wife, Erika.
The audience greeted him with standing ovations, a stark contrast to the outrage from conservative circles that had initially fueled the suspension.
Trump, never one to shy away from a fight, blasted ABC for bringing Kimmel back, accusing the network of peddling what he calls "99% positive Democrat garbage" and suggesting Kimmel's return could be an illegal campaign contribution to the DNC.
"I think we're going to test ABC out on this," Trump declared, hinting at a lucrative lawsuit and referencing a prior $16 million settlement with the network over separate defamation claims.
His legal history with media outlets, including settlements with ABC and CBS, as well as ongoing battles with The New York Times and others, underscores his claim of fighting to restore journalistic integrity, though none of these cases have yet reached a courtroom.
On the other side of the ring, Kimmel's reinstatement drew support from over 430 celebrities and the ACLU, who signed an open letter defending his right to speak freely, even amidst the controversy.
Turning Point USA, however, urged broadcasters to hold firm against pressure to reinstate Kimmel, reflecting the deep divide over whether his comments crossed a line or simply sparked necessary debate.
While Kimmel's emotional return may have swayed some, Trump's threat of legal action and the conservative outcry suggest this battle over media accountability and free expression is far from over, leaving ABC caught in a tug-of-war between progressive ideals and traditionalist pushback.