It may well be a turning point since the start of Donald Trump's second term eight months ago. Jimmy Kimmel, the comedian and talk-show host on ABC who is loathed by the American president, was recently suspended and then reinstated by his network within five days. In an astonishing twist, Trump's ploy backfired. He intended to put an end to the television shows that mock him and to the freedom of expression he keeps downplaying; instead, the opposite has happened and for once, he has lost. At least, for now.
Trump has four television figures in his crosshairs: Stephen Colbert (CBS), Jimmy Kimmel (ABC), Jimmy Fallon (NBC) and Seth Meyers (NBC). What they have in common is that they all host late shows that air at around 11:30 pm – a television institution in the United States. The show typically opens with the host's monologue − filled with sharp jokes about current events and politics − before welcoming celebrities, often to discuss a cultural event.
Since Trump entered the White House in 2017, bringing with him a torrent of brash and self-satisfied rhetoric, the American president has been a target for these four hosts – among others. He has become a source of inspiration for their punchlines, to the point where late-night television has turned into a counterweight to presidential power. During his first term, he railed against shows he once admired and frequently appeared on. Since his re-election in January, he has taken action, trying to silence the troublemakers.
This summer, it emerged that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – the most watched, with 2.4 million viewers, and whose host is Trump's harshest critic – will end in May 2026. In mid-September, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! over the host's "inappropriate" comments following the killing of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel argued that Trump was exploiting the tragedy, which is a defensible claim, and suggested the killer was linked to the MAGA movement – a much more questionable assertion.
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