Late night defends Jimmy Kimmel: What Fallon, Colbert, Jon Stewart are saying Anthony Robledo, Brendan Morrow and Pamela Avila, USA TODAY September 20, 2025 at 2:23 AM 28 The latenight landscape is standing united with Jimmy Kimmel.
- - Late night defends Jimmy Kimmel: What Fallon, Colbert, Jon Stewart are saying
Anthony Robledo, Brendan Morrow and Pamela Avila, USA TODAY September 20, 2025 at 2:23 AM
28
The late-night landscape is standing united with Jimmy Kimmel.
Kimmel's peers took to their respective shows Thursday night in defense of the comedian, after ABC "indefinitely" suspended his show over his comments on the killing of Charlie Kirk, which drew harsh criticism from the head of the Federal Communications Commission.
Many of the hosts issued warnings for what they fear the move means for the future of free speech and government overreach.
Stephen Colbert, at the start of his "The Late Show" monologue on Sept. 18, decryed the suspension as "blatant censorship."
"With an autocrat, you cannot give an inch," he said. "If ABC thinks this is going to satisfy the regime, they are woefully naive, and clearly, they've never read the children's book 'If You Give a Mouse a Kimmel.' And to Jimmy, just let me say, I stand with you and your staff 100%."
After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see other the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Comedian Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was pulled off the air indefinitely Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see other the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/1RjDsor class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was pulled off the air indefinitely Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see other the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
">Comedian Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was pulled off the air indefinitely Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see other the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" src=https://ift.tt/1RjDsor class=caas-img>Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/gSxqBHm class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
">In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" src=https://ift.tt/gSxqBHm class=caas-img>In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/uhqygwK class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
">"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/uhqygwK class=caas-img>Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said 'NO THANKS' Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts "Last Week Tonight" is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said 'NO THANKS' Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/PLnH0J2 class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts "Last Week Tonight" is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said 'NO THANKS' Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
">John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts "Last Week Tonight" is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said 'NO THANKS' Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/PLnH0J2 class=caas-img>"I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>When CBS announced the network was terminating "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/sb1U28z class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
When CBS announced the network was terminating "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
">When CBS announced the network was terminating "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" src=https://ift.tt/sb1U28z class=caas-img>The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Q1Svtw5 class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
">Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" src=https://ift.tt/Q1Svtw5 class=caas-img>
1 / 6Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was pulled off the air indefinitely Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see other the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
On "The Tonight Show," Jimmy Fallon was more passive in his defense. "To be honest with you all, I don't know what's going on, and no one does," he said. "But I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he's a decent, funny and loving guy, and I hope he comes back."
Fallon then joked around about concerns that late-night comedy shows will be "censored." He vowed to continue covering President Donald Trump "just like I normally would," but then a voiceover in the studio began dubbing over his words with over-the-top praise for the president.
Jimmy Fallon reacts to Jimmy Kimmel's suspension: 'I hope he comes back'
On "Late Night," Seth Meyers echoed concerns that the First Amendment was under threat following Kimmel's falling out with ABC, the FCC and Trump.
"May I just say, it is a privilege and an honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend in the same way it is an honor to do this show every night," he said. "I wake up every day and count my blessings that I live in a country that at least purports to value freedom of speech, and we're going to keep doing our show the way we've always done it with enthusiasm and integrity."
"This is a big moment in our democracy and we must all stand up for the principles of free expression," Meyers continued. Despite a sarcastic bit where he said he has always "admired and respected" Trump, the comedian assured fans that his show will not change its critical tone out of fear of retaliation.
David Letterman, Seth Meyers say Jimmy Kimmel suspension threatens freedom of speech
Another defense came from retired late-night legend David Letterman. The former "Late Show" host expressed dismay over Kimmel's fate during an appearance at The Atlantic Festival on Sept. 18.
"In the world of somebody who is an authoritarian, maybe a dictatorship, sooner or later, everyone is going to be touched," Letterman said.
Sharing support for "my good friend" Kimmel, he continued, "I feel bad about this because we all see where this is going, correct? It's managed media. It's no good. It's silly. It's ridiculous. And you can't go around firing somebody because you're fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian, criminal administration in the Oval Office. That's just not how this works."
Jon Stewart addresses Jimmy Kimmel suspension, calls President Trump 'perfectly tinted'
Jon Stewart took a different approach, opening "The Daily Show" with an "administration compliant" segment, sarcastically praising President Donald Trump, calling him "perfectly tinted," and pretending to shush the audience when they booed at Trump.
"Our great administration has laid out very clear rules on free speech. Now, some naysayers may argue that this administration's speech concerns are merely a cynical ploy. A thin gruel of a ruse. A smoke screen to obscure an unprecedented consolidation of power and unitarian intimidation and coldly antithetical to any experiment in a constitutional republic governance," he said. "Some people would say that. Not me, though. I think it's great."
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, Colbert, Letterman talk Jimmy Kimmel
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