Former US President Donald Trump once again caused a stir when he used Truth Social to criticize ABC’s decision to bring comedian Jimmy Kimmel back to his late-night television show. In a scathing post, Trump said it was a “terrible mistake” that would leave the entire ABC network “drowned in Democrat garbage with 99% bias.”
Trump wrote: “I can’t believe ABC Fake News brought Jimmy Kimmel back. ABC told the White House his show was canceled! But something must have happened because his audience disappeared, and his so-called ‘talent’ never showed up. Why would they want someone who is incompetent, humorless, and only serves Democrat propaganda garbage?”
The statement shows the long-standing feud between Trump and Kimmel. Throughout Trump’s presidency, Kimmel has frequently used his opening monologues to satirize and mock him and his administration’s policies. Trump, who is notoriously short-tempered, has repeatedly called Kimmel “useless,” “boring,” and “the disaster of late-night television.”
The confrontation, however, is not just personal. It reflects a broader culture war in the United States, where many conservatives accuse the mainstream media of being biased toward the left, while progressives see political comedy as a tool for social commentary. Late-night shows from Stephen Colbert to Seth Meyers have tended to criticize Republicans, which Trump sees as clear evidence of media “rigging.”
On the business side, Trump’s attacks are not entirely unfounded. Viewership of late-night programming has been in steep decline for years, as audiences have migrated to online platforms and social media. Kimmel is no exception, as his loyal audience dwindles. Trump believes ABC’s bet on Kimmel is commercial suicide: “The audience is gone,” he asserts.
However, Kimmel’s supporters believe that Trump is the reason the comedian remains popular. Every time Trump mentions Kimmel’s name, his satirical clips go viral online, attracting millions of views outside of the airwaves. For ABC, the noise may not be a burden, but a free publicity stunt.
Trump’s choice of this moment to target Kimmel is no coincidence. As the 2024 election heats up, he has stepped up his attacks on media outlets and Hollywood figures he views as “liberal elites” who are always trying to undermine him. Targeting Kimmel is Trump’s way of rallying the support of conservative voters who hate the left-leaning entertainment industry.
However, many critics of Trump said that his constant attacks on a comedian only made him look “fragile” and “lacking in stature.” One social media user quipped: “Imagine, being the former president of the United States and now arguing with a comedy show host.”
ABC has yet to officially respond, while Kimmel has not yet commented on this latest statement. But with his usual style, it is possible that Kimmel will use his own stage to respond, opening a new round of verbal war.
The outcome of this “war” is still open. However, one thing is certain: the Trump-Kimmel confrontation is not just a quarrel between a politician and an artist, but also a symbol of the deep divide in American society today.
