Fallon Vows Neutrality After Kimmel's Brief Suspension

Jimmy Fallon told CNBC he plans to keep The Tonight Show out of politics, saying the program "hits both sides equally," that his monologues follow a Johnny Carson–style approach, and that he and his writers are focused on making people laugh. His comments followed ABC's brief suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! over remarks about the death of Charlie Kirk, a move that prompted Nexstar and Sinclair to threaten preemptions and drew public comment from FCC Chair Brendan Carr. Kimmel was reinstated days later, and the incident prompted vocal defenses from other late-night hosts as well as sharp criticism and threats from former President Trump on Truth Social. Fallon’s apolitical stance contrasts with more politically engaged hosts such as Colbert, Kimmel, and Meyers, and has drawn both praise for broad appeal and criticism tied to his bookings of conservative figures like Greg Gutfeld. Fallon says he will "keep his head down" and prioritize entertainment amid heightened scrutiny of political comedy on television.