Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel delivered a sharp rebuke to Vice President JD Vance during his Tuesday night monologue on September 17, 2025, calling out what he described as false claims about political extremism in America. The confrontation came after Vance made statements while guest-hosting Charlie Kirk’s podcast following Kirk’s death in Utah the previous week.
During his appearance on the conservative podcast, Vance claimed that most political extremists in America belong to the far left. The vice president stated that while conservatives have their share of problematic individuals, statistical evidence points to the left as harboring the majority of political lunatics. Kimmel responded by characterizing Vance’s assertion as “complete bullshit.”
The television host countered Vance’s claims by referencing Justice Department findings that identify far-right groups as the primary source of domestic terrorism and extremist violence in the United States. Kimmel noted that this official report had recently disappeared from the department’s website, adding another layer of concern to the discussion about political violence.
Kimmel then posed a pointed question to challenge Vance’s narrative about left-wing extremism. He asked viewers to consider which political faction had called for violence against former Vice President Mike Pence, specifically referencing the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. The host questioned whether it was liberal leftists or Trump supporters who had stormed the Capitol building while chanting threats against Pence.
The exchange represents the latest escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and late-night comedy hosts. These tensions reached a critical point when ABC suspended Kimmel’s show indefinitely on September 17, following government pressure over separate comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s death.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr had threatened to revoke ABC’s broadcast license and those of its affiliates unless action was taken against Kimmel. The FCC chair called Kimmel’s remarks about Kirk’s death “truly sick” and indicated his agency would investigate the matter. This government pressure represents what civil liberties advocates describe as an unprecedented attack on free speech rights.
The American Civil Liberties Union condemned the administration’s actions through Christopher Anders, director of the Democracy and Technology Division. Anders characterized the government’s behavior as exceeding McCarthyism, noting that Trump officials are repeatedly abusing their power to silence ideas they oppose while deciding who can speak, write, or make jokes in America.
President Trump celebrated ABC’s decision to pull Kimmel’s show, posting on Truth Social that the suspension represented “Great News for America.” Trump also used the opportunity to target other late-night hosts, specifically calling for NBC to cancel shows hosted by Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.
The controversy stems from broader concerns about media consolidation and corporate vulnerability to government pressure. Disney, ABC’s parent company, frequently seeks federal regulatory approval for various business ventures, creating potential leverage points for the administration. The company had previously settled a defamation lawsuit with Trump for $15 million in December.
Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcasting, which operate approximately 25% of ABC affiliates nationwide, announced they would not air Kimmel’s program. Nexstar cited concerns about the host’s “offensive and insensitive” comments during a critical time in national political discourse. The company’s decision came as it pursues a merger requiring FCC approval.
Fellow late-night hosts have rallied around Kimmel following his suspension. Seth Meyers declared his intention to continue criticizing the administration despite the pressure, while Jimmy Fallon expressed hope for Kimmel’s return while demonstrating solidarity through a satirical segment about censorship.
The suspension has raised broader questions about press freedom and the government’s ability to influence media content through regulatory threats. Legal experts note that the First Amendment explicitly protects against government censorship of speech, making the FCC’s threats potentially unconstitutional. The situation has created concerns about authoritarian consolidation efforts targeting comedians and journalists who criticize the administration.
