Barack Obama began engaging with social media to express his perspective on the announcement that Jimmy Kimmel’s show faced a postponement.
The program, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, hosted by the 57-year-old Jimmy Kimmel, was confirmed to be paused after his remarks about Charlie Kirk, who tragically lost his life on September 10 due to a fatal neck wound, and comments involving Donald Trump.
During his broadcast, Kimmel humorously addressed Trump’s response to the passing of Charlie Kirk, alongside a remark about the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson.
On Wednesday, September 17, a spokesperson from ABC announced: “Jimmy Kimmel Live! will remain off the air for an undetermined period.”
Several prominent figures expressed disapproval of the decision, while former President Donald Trump welcomed it, describing it as “Great News for America.”
Former President Barack Obama also shared his thoughts on the development.
In his Monday, September 15 episode, Kimmel stated: “Over the weekend, we saw new depths reached by certain groups attempting to portray the individual responsible for Charlie Kirk’s death as anything but aligned with their views, all while using the tragedy to gain political leverage. Amid the accusations, there was mourning.”
Kimmel then played a clip where Trump was asked about his feelings following Kirk’s passing, to which he replied: “I think very good.”
Trump proceeded to discuss renovations to the White House ballroom, prompting Kimmel to quip: “He’s reached the fourth stage of grief: construction. This isn’t how a grown person processes the loss of someone they called a friend. This is how a toddler might react to a pet goldfish passing, alright?”
In response to the postponement news, Obama took to Threads to share a report about Jimmy Kimmel Live! being paused.
He wrote: “For years, some have decried cancel culture, but now the current administration has escalated it to a troubling degree by repeatedly threatening regulatory measures against media outlets unless they silence or dismiss journalists and commentators it disapproves of.
“This is exactly the kind of governmental overreach the First Amendment was crafted to protect against, and media organizations must stand firm rather than yield to such pressure.”
Trump, on the other hand, appeared to embrace the news, stating: “Great News for America: The low-rated Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED.
“Kudos to ABC for having the resolve to take necessary action,” he continued. “Kimmel has no talent, and his ratings are even worse than Colbert’s, if that’s imaginable.
“That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two complete failures, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are abysmal too. Time to act, NBC!!! President DJT.”