Disney Reinstates Kimmel After Six Days — Trump’s Censorship Theater Backfires
ABC’s parent says the show returns Tuesday; Trump cheered the suspension, but—so far—has offered no public reaction to Disney’s reversal
By Rob McConnell - TWATNews.com Investigative Desk – Monday, September 22, 2025
Washington, D.C. / Burbank, CA — After six days of political chest-thumping and regulatory saber-rattling, Disney says Jimmy Kimmel Live! returns to air Tuesday, Sept. 23, ending ABC’s “indefinite” suspension that followed Kimmel’s on-air comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Disney’s move comes amid broad free-speech blowback and accusations that the Trump White House and its FCC chair tried to strong-arm a broadcaster for political gain.
What changed
Disney announced the reversal today, saying the return follows “conversations with Kimmel,” not pressure from affiliates or regulators. The timing marks a clear defiance of government jawboning and industry intimidation that spiraled after last week’s outrage cycle.
Trump’s reaction
When ABC yanked Kimmel, Trump celebrated the move, even mischaracterizing it as a cancellation. As of this publication, he has not issued a public response to Disney’s decision to bring Kimmel back. That silence is telling from an administration that spent the past week flexing at broadcasters.
The pressure campaign
At the center of this mess: threats and “warnings” from FCC leadership that broadcasters could face consequences over a late-night monologue. For a regulator to dangle license risk over content is the very definition of chilling speech. Lawmakers—including Republicans—called out the conduct as thuggish and un-American. This is not how a free press is supposed to work—especially in a country that enshrines the First Amendment.
Why this matters beyond late night
- Precedent: If a president can leverage regulators to punish jokes he dislikes, no newsroom, satire show, or documentary is safe.
- Signal to media owners: Disney’s reinstatement is a reminder that capitulating to political bullying invites more of it.
- Viewers and voters: The proper remedy for “offensive” speech isn’t government muscle—it’s the remote control.
Bottom line
Disney’s U-turn is not just programming news; it’s a rebuke to the Trump playbook of threats, license scares, and performative outrage. Kimmel returns. Free expression—imperfect and loud—returns with him. The next move is Trump’s, but for once, the bully pulpit didn’t get the final cut.