The White House has fired back at former President Barack Obama for accusing the Trump administration of meddling in ABC's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show, according to The New York Post.
The controversy erupted after Kimmel's inflammatory remarks about the assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, leading to ABC's indefinite hiatus of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," a decision the White House insists had no presidential interference.
It all started last Monday when Kimmel delivered a monologue suggesting the assassin of Charlie Kirk was a supporter of the MAGA movement.
This comment sparked immediate backlash, and by Wednesday, local broadcaster Nexstar, which airs Kimmel’s show on its independently owned stations, decided to preempt the program.
ABC swiftly followed suit, announcing an indefinite suspension of Kimmel’s show that same day, citing the comedian’s remarks as the catalyst.
Hours before ABC's announcement, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr weighed in, suggesting Kimmel’s comments might have breached FCC rules about operating in the public interest.
Enter Barack Obama, who on Thursday took to X to claim the Trump administration had pushed “cancel culture” to dangerous new heights by influencing ABC’s decision.
Obama’s post, referencing a Vox article alleging Trump’s displeasure with Kimmel, added fuel to an already blazing controversy, but where’s the evidence of White House meddling?
Supporting Kimmel earlier in the week, Obama positioned himself as a defender of free speech, yet his accusation seems to sidestep the network’s autonomy in handling its own programming.
By Saturday, September 20, 2025, the White House hit back hard, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissing Obama’s claims as baseless.
“With all due respect to former President Obama, he has no idea what he is talking about,” Leavitt stated, cutting through the noise with a direct rebuttal.
Leavitt emphasized that Trump was on a state visit in the United Kingdom, engaging with the Royal Family and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, when ABC made its call, completely unaware of the unfolding drama.
“I can assure you it did not come from the White House and there was no pressure given from the president of the United States,” Leavitt added, doubling down on the administration’s non-involvement.
She even noted that she had to inform Trump of ABC’s decision while they were abroad, a detail that undercuts any narrative of presidential interference in what appears to be a corporate choice.
While progressive voices might cry foul over Kimmel’s suspension, it’s worth asking if networks shouldn’t be held accountable for content that inflames rather than informs, especially during times of national mourning.
ABC’s move, driven by Nexstar’s initial pre-emption, reflects a broader tension between free speech and the responsibility to avoid reckless rhetoric, a balance often ignored in today’s hyper-polarized climate.
Kimmel’s remark about Kirk’s assassin wasn’t just controversial—it was a deliberate poke at a grieving conservative base, and networks like ABC aren’t obligated to platform every hot take.