Jimmy Kimmel Ran Right at His Critics
Atlantic2 days
Kimmel Returns After Suspension, Trump Lawsuit Threat
Above: Jimmy Kimmel's show was back on the air Sept. 23, 2025. Image copyright: Randy Holmes/Disney/Getty Images
The Spin
Right narrative
Kimmel's return to the airwaves shows this was never about government censorship, despite the left's attempts to blame Trump for stripping the comedian of his freedom of speech. Disney made a business decision to suspend and then reinstate him after he threatened to break his contract. Kimmel, who in the past celebrated when Trump and others on the right were censored, has caught a break he doesn't deserve.
Left narrative
Make no mistake, Kimmel was taken off the air because Trump's authoritarian pressure campaign temporarily worked through FCC threats and corporate intimidation. The massive cultural backlash from unions, celebrities and even some Republicans forced Disney to reverse course — proving that organized resistance can defeat government censorship and that this situation never had anything to do with Kimmel's ratings.
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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.16.0
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.16.0