<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump spoke publicly about the news that ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air during his state visit to the U.K.<\/p>\n
Kimmel’s late-night show was paused “indefinitely” after he questioned the president’s reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk<\/p>\n
Trump previously praised ABC on Truth Social for “having the courage” to shut Kimmel down<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump has spoken out publicly in the wake of the news that ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air.
\nThe network announced its decision to indefinitely pause the show after host Kimmel referenced the recent assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk during a monologue, in which he questioned the president’s reaction to the news.
\nAmid Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom on Thursday, Sept. 18, Trump, 79, shared his thoughts about Kimmel’s hiatus and characterized it as a firing.
\n“Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else and he said a horrible thing about a great man named Charlie Kirk,” Trump said. “Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person, he had very bad ratings, and they should have fired him a long time ago.”
\n“You can call that free speech or not,” the president continued. “He was fired for lack of talent.”
\nWhat Did Jimmy Kimmel Say About Charlie Kirk\u2019s Death on His Late-Night Show? Read the Full Transcript
\nDonald Trump Celebrates Jimmy Kimmel Being Pulled Off Air 2 Months After Saying He Hoped to Play Role in Cancellation
\nThe remarks that seemingly landed Kimmel in hot water came during the Monday, Sept. 15, episode of his show.
\n\u201cWe hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,\u201d Kimmel said in the monologue. \u201cIn between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.\u201d
\n\u201cOn Friday, the White House flew the flags at half staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this,\u201d he continued. A clip then cut into Kimmel\u2019s broadcast, showing Trump taking questions from reporters after the shooting, one of whom offered their condolences for the death of the president\u2019s \u201cfriend\u201d Kirk.
\nWhen asked how he was holding up, Trump replied, \u201cI think very good, and by the way, right there where you see all the trucks, they just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House.\u201d Trump continued discussing the ballroom plans, saying the result would “be a beauty.\u201d
\nThe cameras then cut back to Kimmel, who said, \u201cYes, he\u2019s at the fourth stage of grief: construction.\u201d
\n\u201cThis is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend,” Kimmel added. “This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
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The host then said Trump\u2019s seemingly nonchalant comments \u201cdidn\u2019t just happen once,\u201d showing the president on a Sept. 12 appearance on\u00a0Fox & Friends,\u00a0where he recalled what he was doing when he got news of Kirk\u2019s death.
\n\u201cWhen I heard it, I was in the midst of, you know, building a great \u2014 for 150 years they\u2019ve wanted a ballroom at the White House, right? They don\u2019t have a ballroom; they have to use tents on the lawn for President Xi when he comes over. If it rains, it’s a wipeout,\u201d Trump said.
\nTrump said he was with the architects planning the “incredible” design for the ballroom when someone entered and told him, “‘Charlie Kirk is dead.’ ”\u00a0The president said he expressed shock over the news.
\n\u201cAnd then we installed the most beautiful chandelier,\u201d Kimmel sarcastically chimed in, as the cameras were back on him. \u201cSconces you wouldn\u2019t believe.\u201d
\n\u201cThere\u2019s something wrong with him, there really is. Who thinks like that?\u201d continued Kimmel, who previously\u00a0sent condolences to Kirk’s family\u00a0while firmly denouncing violence.\u00a0“Why are we building a $200 million ballroom in the White House? Is it possible he’s doing it intentionally so we can be mad about that instead of the Epstein list? By the time he’s out of office, the White House will have slot machines and a water slide.”
\nTrump Says There’s ‘Strong Word’ That Kimmel and Fallon Will Be Fired Next \u2014 and He’s Already Taking Credit for It
\nHow Public Figures from JD Vance to Nancy Pelosi Are Condemning the Shooting of Charlie Kirk
\nA spokesperson for Disney’s ABC confirmed that the late-night talk show was being placed on\u00a0indefinite hiatus on Wednesday, Sept. 17, after his comments. The decision came in response to a threat from Nexstar Media to preempt airings of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
\nNexstar said in a statement to PEOPLE that it \u201cstrongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets.\u201d
\nNexstar is the largest local broadcast and digital media company in the U.S., owning more than 200 television stations in 116 markets. It recently announced plans to acquire rival broadcast company Tegna for $6.2 billion, a massive deal that will require final approval from the Trump-controlled Federal Communications Commission.
\nNever miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
\nOn Wednesday night, the president \u2014 who has been in the U.K. with his wife, Melania Trump, for an official state visit with the royal family at Windsor Castle \u2014 praised ABC’s actions on Truth Social.
\nTrump said in a statement on the social media platform, “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED.”
\n“Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that\u2019s possible,” he continued, before taking aim at late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.
\n“That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJ,” he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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