ABC reinstated Jimmy Kimmel Live! after suspending it over a Trump critique, sparking backlash and a dismissed $15B lawsuit against The New York Times.

In September 2025, tensions between former President Donald Trump and the media rose after ABC temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! following a monologue about Trump’s reaction to conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death. Trump praised the suspension, while FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the show broke misinformation rules. Major affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair removed the program, but ABC brought it back after talks with Kimmel, which led to conservative backlash and Sinclair’s plan to replace it with news shows. At the same time, a Florida federal judge threw out Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, calling the complaint too long and ordering a revised version within 28 days. The lawsuit targeted articles and a book about Trump’s finances and TV career, which The Times said was an attempt to silence free speech. These events showed ongoing conflicts between Trump and major news outlets during his second term, sparking criticism from entertainment figures and the ACLU over threats to press freedom.