Trump Threatens Legal Action Against ABC Over Kimmel’s Return to Late-Night TV

Trump Threatens Legal Action Against ABC Over Kimmel’s Return to Late-Night TV

By Connor McCrory, Kathleen O’Boyle, and Michael D. Carroll

Date: September 24, 2025

In a fiery response to ABC’s announcement of Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night television, former President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the network, accusing it of bias and suggesting that Kimmel’s reinstatement constitutes an “illegal campaign contribution” to the Democratic Party.

Taking to his platform, Truth Social, Trump expressed outrage over ABC’s decision, claiming that the network had previously informed the White House that Kimmel’s show was canceled. “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back,” Trump posted. “Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.”

Trump’s comments come amid a backdrop of escalating tensions between the former president and Kimmel, who has frequently targeted Trump in his comedic routines. The former president continued his tirade, questioning why ABC would reinstate someone he deemed unfunny and politically biased. “He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution,” Trump asserted.

In a bold declaration, Trump hinted at a potential legal battle, stating, “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. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings.”

Kimmel’s comeback episode aired last night, officially marking his return after an indefinite hiatus that had sparked widespread speculation. The controversy surrounding Kimmel’s return intensified following his final monologue, where he accused “the MAGA gang” of politicizing the death of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.

The backlash was swift, with major ABC affiliate groups, including Sinclair and Nexstar, opting to remove Kimmel from their broadcast schedules indefinitely. FCC Chair Brendan Carr escalated the situation further, threatening regulatory action against broadcasters who continued to air the program without addressing his objections.

In the wake of mounting criticism and subscriber cancellations, ABC engaged in discussions with Kimmel and ultimately decided to reinstate the show. However, Sinclair announced it would not broadcast the return episode, opting for news programming instead until further discussions with ABC are concluded.

This latest development follows CBS’s decision not to renew Stephen Colbert for another series, citing commercial reasons despite Colbert’s strong ratings among late-night shows.

As the situation unfolds, Trump’s threats and Kimmel’s return are sure to keep audiences engaged in this ongoing saga of politics and entertainment. Stay tuned for updates on this breaking news story as it develops.