BURSTHouse Democratic leaders called for Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr to resign Thursday after ABC announced it would stop airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” due to the host’s remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
ABC’s decision to pull Kimmel’s show came shortly after Carr threatened during a podcast interview to revoke ABC affiliate licenses if they didn't take action to punish the late-night host.
“Brendan Carr, the so-called Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has engaged in the corrupt abuse of power," top House Democrats said in a joint statement released by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) on the social platform X. "He has disgraced the office he holds by bullying ABC, the employer of Jimmy Kimmel, and forcing the company to bend the knee to the Trump administration.”
“FCC Chair Brendan Carr should resign immediately. Donald Trump and the Republican Party's war on the First Amendment is blatantly inconsistent with American values,” they added.
The statement came from Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark (Mass.), House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (Calif.), Vice Chair Ted Lieu (Calif.), Assistant Leader Joe Neguse (Colo.) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Suzan DelBene (Wash.).
During an interview with right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson on Wednesday, Carr said, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” referring to Kimmel's show. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead,” he added.
Kimmel during his show Monday night said the country “hit some new lows over the weekend,” when the “MAGA gang desperately tried to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
The comedian accused conservative Republicans of trying to “score political points” from Kirk’s death. Kimmel then attacked President Trump, joking he was mourning Charlie Kirk “the way a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
Many conservative influencers blasted Kimmel for his comments and then celebrated Kimmel being taken off the air.
Before ABC announced its action, Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill, said its affiliate stations across the country will preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live” starting Wednesday evening over his comments.
“I am glad to see that many broadcasters are responding to their viewers as intended,” Carr wrote in a statement on the social platform X on Thursday morning.
Trump also celebrated Kimmel’s removal.
“Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” the president said. “Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible,” he added referring to Stephen Colbert who was fired for criticism of the Trump administration.
Top Democrats called ABC's decision "cowardice."
“The censoring of artists and cancellation of shows is an act of cowardice. It may also be part of a corrupt pay-to-play scheme,” the Thursday statement from leadership read.
“House Democrats will make sure the American people learn the truth, even if that requires the relentless unleashing of congressional subpoena power. This will not be forgotten,” they continued.