Former President Barack Obama criticized the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live, calling it an example of government pressure on the media. In a post on X, Obama argued that the administration has taken cancel culture “to a new and dangerous level” by coercing media companies to silence voices it dislikes, warning that such actions run counter to First Amendment protections.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back during an appearance on Fox News’ Saturday in America with Kayleigh McEnany. “With all due respect to former President Obama, he has no idea what he’s talking about,” Leavitt said, stressing that the decision to pull the show came from ABC executives—not the White House.
Leavitt added that she personally informed President Trump of the suspension while they were in the United Kingdom, emphasizing that Trump “had no idea this was happening.” She said ABC acted because Kimmel “knowingly lied to his audience” about the death of Charlie Kirk, arguing that the network viewed it as a breach of trust during a time of national mourning.
Disney, ABC’s parent company, confirmed the show’s indefinite suspension. Major station groups including Nexstar and Sinclair also announced they would drop the program, citing Kimmel’s controversial remarks. The move has fueled a debate over media accountability, free speech, and the boundaries of political influence on broadcast decisions.
