Featured Image Credit: Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Jimmy Kimmel, US News, TV and Film
Joe Harker
Topics: Donald Trump, Jimmy Kimmel, US News, TV and Film
Donald Trump has given his response to Jimmy Kimmel being back on air as the talk show host has made his return to TV following a suspension.
Kimmel had been suspended after criticising Trump's supporters for trying to use the death of Charlie Kirk to 'score political points', with ABC then saying that Jimmy Kimmel Live! had been 'preempted indefinitely'.
The decision drew a significant backlash as it was called 'a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation', with Trump having previously made it clear he'd like Kimmel off the air.
The US president celebrated and even used his speech at Kirk's memorial to say Kimmel had 'no talent and no ratings'.
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However, Kimmel is back on TV again after ABC reinstated his show and a fresh episode went out on Tuesday (23 September), though it was not available to everyone as certain broadcasting groups refused to air it.
Speaking on his return to the TV screen, the presenter said that Trump tried 'his best to cancel me', yet 'instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show'.
Kimmel added: "The President of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke."
Rather demonstrating Kimmel's point, Trump took to Truth Social and threatened to sue ABC as he raged over Jimmy Kimmel Live! being back on TV.
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He wrote: "I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.
"Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE.
"He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution.
"I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings."
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Trump's claim about '$16 million dollars' refers to a previous lawsuit he brought against the broadcaster for news anchor George Stephanopoulos saying he'd been 'liable for rape'.
He'd actually been found liable for 'sexual abuse', and last year ABC settled a defamation lawsuit by paying $15 million towards Trump's presidential library.
LADbible has contacted ABC for comment.