U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening said he will “test” Disney ’s (NYSE:DIS) ABC after the network chose to restore Jimmy Kimmel Live! following a week’s suspension over comments the host made on slain activist Charlie Kirk.
Trump, in a social media post, expressed incredulity at Kimmel’s restoration, and claimed that the show’s audience was “gone.”
Trump also accused Kimmel of pandering to the Democrats– an accusation he has levied against several mainstream media outlets– and said that he will “test ABC out” over Kimmel’s restoration, hinting at a potential lawsuit against the broadcaster.
“Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative,” Trump said in a post laden with attacks on Kimmel and ABC.
Trump was referencing the $15 million settlement he won from ABC in late-2024 after he sued the broadcaster for allegedly defamatory coverage of the presidential elections.
Kimmel’s late-night show resumed shortly after Trump’s post on Tuesday. The comedian continued to poke fun at the president while also noting his attempts to cancel the show.
"He tried his best to cancel me, instead he forced millions of people to watch this show... he might have to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now," Kimmel said, referencing Trump’s alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein.
Kimmel also lashed out against the Trump administration, specifically Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, who he accused of attempting to stifle free speech. Carr was among the leading voices calling for Kimmel’s cancellation, and had spoken on a podcast about threatening ABC and Disney with regulatory action over the matter.
But Kimmel did offer some conciliatory comments on Kirk’s shooting.
"It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man," Kimmel said, his voice briefly cracking with emotion.
"I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone... this was a sick person who believed violence was a solution, and it isn’t, ever."
The talk show host had earlier joked that Tyler Robinson, who was accused of shooting Kirk at a Utah university earlier in September, was aligned with Trump and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
Kimmel had also joked about Trump’s apparent lack of grief over Kirk’s death.
Trump and his allies had lashed out against Kimmel over his comments, while also largely blaming the Democrats and the political left for violence in the country.
The president had called Kimmel’s cancellation “great news for America.” But the move had drawn widespread criticism of ABC and Disney, while also sparking calls for Kimmel’s restoration. Several Republican lawmakers had also objected to Kimmel’s cancellation, stating that it set the wrong precedent for free speech in the country.
Trump has consistently sued and berated media outlets whose coverage he claims defames him. He had last week launched a $15 billion defamation suit against the New York Times.
