Donald Trump says Jimmy Kimmel Live! had ‘bad ratings’, calls to pull licences of networks ‘against’ him
US President Donald Trump says “Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings, more than anything else,” while speaking at a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his UK visit.
“And he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk,” he added.
His remarks came one day after ABC suspended the airing of Jimmy Kimmel Live! following comments by host Jimmy Kimmel linking the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to Mr Trump’s MAGA movement.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person, he had very bad ratings and they should’ve fired him a long time ago. You can call that free speech or not. He was fired for lack of talent,” he said.
While speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Mr Trump suggested that the Federal Government might revoke the broadcast licenses of television networks that are “against” him.
Mr Trump pointed to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr and said it would be “up to Brendan Carr”, as the decision-maker on whether networks’ licenses could be cancelled.
Mr Carr had on Wednesday hinted that ABC’s license, owned by Disney, could be at risk if it did not take action on Kimmel’s remarks.
“I have read someplace that the networks were 97 per cent against me, again, 97 per cent negative, and yet I won and easily, all seven swing states,” Mr Trump said.
“They give me only bad publicity, press. I mean, they’re getting a license,” Mr Trump said on Thursday, “I would think maybe their license should be taken away.”
Mr Trump specifically mentioned criticism from Kimmel and CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert, saying, “Look, that’s something that should be talked about for licensing, too,” and alleging that networks “haven’t had a conservative on in years or something, somebody said”.
He added, “They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that. They’re an arm of the Democrat party.”
Mr Carr described changes in the “media ecosystem” while speaking to CNBC’s Squawk on the Street on Thursday and claimed, “We’re not done yet.”
Mr Trump, who nominated Mr Carr to his position, praised him as “outstanding” and “a patriot.”
“He loves our country, and he’s a tough guy. So we’ll have to see.”
The licensing requirement gives the FCC authority over broadcast TV stations, which are free over the air via antenna, contrasting with cable networks that operate under different rules.
