ABC Reinstates Kimmel Amid Backlash, Trump Pressure

ABC reinstated Jimmy Kimmel Live! five days after suspending the host over a controversial monologue about the alleged killer of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Kimmel returned amid intense public backlash and support — his first episode back drew unusually large TV and YouTube audiences — while some major affiliates, including Sinclair and Nexstar, said they will continue to preempt the program in certain markets. President Donald Trump publicly celebrated the suspension and then threatened ABC, signaling possible legal action as part of a broader pressure campaign against late‑night critics. On air Kimmel mocked Trump, teared up addressing the controversy and offered a partial mea culpa while insisting he would not be silenced; supporters and press‑freedom advocates condemned the suspension as a threat to free expression, and critics pointed to factual errors in his monologue. Disney now faces shareholder and legal scrutiny and lawmakers such as Sen. Chris Murphy warned the episode threatens media and democratic norms; reports also say Kimmel may leave ABC when his contract expires in May 2026, leaving the show's long-term future uncertain.