Trump blasts ABC over Kimmel show, calling the network ‘fake news’ and Kimmel ‘a man with no talent’

Presidential feud escalates between Trump and late-night comedy

President Donald Trump intensified his media criticism by launching another attack on ABC and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The ongoing conflict between the administration and traditional broadcast networks continues to dominate political discourse and entertainment headlines.

Trump has repeatedly called for Kimmel’s removal from the airwaves, citing concerns about content and network credibility. This marks a significant escalation in the president’s documented history of confrontations with mainstream media outlets.

Kimmel’s monologue triggers Trump’s midnight fury

On Wednesday evening, Kimmel opened his show with a segment discussing the upcoming release of Jeffrey Epstein’s documentation. Kimmel humorously remarked that Trump was “bracing for Hurricane Epstein,” referring to the anticipated government disclosure of files.

The late-night host’s jokes about the president’s potential connections sparked immediate backlash on social media platforms. Trump’s response came just hours later in a Truth Social post sent at 12:49 AM.

“Get the bum off the air”

In his Truth Social message, Trump questioned why ABC continued airing Kimmel, calling the host “a man devoid of talent and with extremely low television ratings.” The president demanded to know why television networks tolerated such programming on their platforms.

Trump criticized what he perceived as biased coverage and called for the immediate removal of the late-night show. The inflammatory language reflected the president’s frustration with content he deemed unfair to his administration.

ABC reporter Mary Bruce faces presidential criticism

Trump directed anger at ABC News chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce during an Oval Office meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince. Bruce asked three sharp questions about Trump’s family business dealings in Saudi Arabia and the contentious killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Trump called Bruce a “terrible reporter” and criticized her “insubordinate” questioning style in front of the assembled press corps. The confrontation highlighted ongoing tensions between the administration and the news network.

Trump threatens to revoke ABC’s broadcasting license

During his heated exchange with Mary Bruce, Trump escalated his criticism by suggesting that ABC’s broadcast license should be revoked. The president stated that the network’s news coverage was “so fake and so wrong” and warranted federal regulatory action.

Trump pointed to Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr as someone who “should look at that.” This represented another instance of the president using regulatory threats against media organizations he perceived as critical.

White House releases 17-point memo against ABC News

Trump’s press team distributed a detailed memorandum outlining grievances against ABC News following the exchanges with reporter Bruce. The document catalogued what the administration viewed as instances of biased reporting and unfair treatment of Trump’s policies and personnel.

Examples cited included coverage of cabinet nominees, pandemic response decisions, and border security initiatives. The memo represented a coordinated effort by the White House to publicly challenge the network’s editorial standards and credibility.

Kimmel’s September suspension and recent return

Earlier this year, ABC briefly suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in September after the host made controversial comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The suspension lasted approximately one week before ABC reversed the decision following significant public backlash.

Kimmel returned to the airwaves on September 23 and delivered an emotional monologue defending press freedom and criticizing government pressure. Trump had initially celebrated the suspension before subsequently attacking ABC for reinstating the program.

The Charlie Kirk incident explained clearly

During an episode in mid-September, Kimmel suggested that Trump supporters were attempting to mischaracterize the alleged shooter in Kirk’s death. The comedian made jokes about Republican responses to the tragedy and Trump’s seemingly nonchalant public comments about the incident.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr pressured ABC affiliates over the monologue content, with some stations voluntarily stopping broadcasts temporarily. Trump seized the opportunity to praise the network for the suspension while mocking Kimmel’s talents and viewership numbers.

Trump questions Kimmel’s ratings and relevance in entertainment

The president repeatedly attacked Kimmel, claiming the host had “extremely low television ratings” that justified removal from ABC’s schedule. Trump compared Kimmel’s performance unfavorably to other late-night hosts, suggesting his show lacked the audience engagement of competitors.

However, data from October 2025 revealed that Kimmel actually maintained stronger favorability ratings than the president himself in certain polls. Kimmel later responded on air by highlighting Trump’s historically low approval ratings compared to his own popularity metrics.

Epstein Files Transparency Act creates political firestorm

On November 19, 2025, Trump signed legislation mandating the Department of Justice release all Jeffrey Epstein-related documents within 30 days. The House passed the bill overwhelmingly with a vote of 427-1, while the Senate approved it through unanimous consent the following morning.

Trump portrayed the action as his commitment to transparency and criticized Democrats for their past connections to Epstein. The timing of the Epstein files release became central to ongoing debates about the president’s motivations and credibility.

Kimmel’s Epstein jokes target Trump and administration officials

Kimmel joked that Trump would “play a significant role” in the release of Epstein documents and speculated about what information might emerge. He humorously referenced Trump’s dinner with the Saudi Crown Prince, calling the gathering “an alumni reunion for the legion of doom.”

Kimmel’s comedic framing suggested the administration had questionable relationships and motivations regarding document transparency. The jokes prompted Trump’s angry response and demands for the host’s removal from programming.

In other news, see how Kimmel boldly claimed he’s more popular than the president himself.

Long history of Trump-media conflicts continues unabated

Trump has maintained an adversarial relationship with ABC News, including a previous settlement for alleged defamation by George Stephanopoulos. The president similarly targets other hosts he perceives as critical, having recently called for NBC to fire late-night host Seth Meyers.

Trump’s pattern of threatening media organizations with government action raises concerns about press freedom and presidential authority. Legal experts and journalists have criticized the president’s rhetoric as potentially undermining constitutional protections for independent reporting.

Jimmy Kimmel bounced back with jokes after the revival of his suspended show. See how he poked fun at JD Vance during his big TV return.

What’s your take on Trump going after ABC and Kimmel? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Read More From This Brand:

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• Minnie Driver sparks a free speech debate after Jimmy Kimmel’s sudden show suspension
• Jon Stewart’s response to Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension was incredibly brave and risky

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.