The world of late night television found itself in the spotlight again as Seth Meyers addressed what he described as President Donald Trump’s “crackdown on free speech.”
On Thursday night, Meyers opened his NBC show by weighing in on the recent indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s long-running program on ABC.
The comedian didn’t hold back, blending humor and pointed commentary to make his message clear.
Seth Meyers Uses Humor to Highlight Serious Issues
Meyers began with a sarcastic nod to Trump, earning laughs from the audience.
“I’ve always admired and respected Mr. Trump,” he quipped. “A visionary, innovator, a great president, and an even better golfer
And if you’ve ever heard me say anything negative about him, that’s just AI.”
Turning serious, Meyers praised his colleague Kimmel, emphasizing the privilege of working in a country that values freedom of speech.
“We’re going to keep doing our show with enthusiasm and integrity,” he said, reaffirming his commitment to independent commentary despite mounting pressures.
Trump Criticizes NBC Hosts and Praises ABC Decision
Meanwhile, President Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to celebrate Kimmel’s suspension.
He criticized Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon, calling them “total losers on Fake News NBC” and urging the network to follow ABC’s lead.
“Do it NBC!!!” Trump wrote, echoing his long-standing frustrations with late night hosts who critique his administration.
Jimmy Fallon Responds With Light-Hearted Solidarity
Fallon, keeping his signature humor, appeared to defuse tension on Thursday’s show.
He instructed an announcer to deliver any jokes about Trump to ensure they were inoffensive, joking: “To be honest, no one really knows what’s going on, but Jimmy Kimmel is a decent, funny, and loving guy.
I hope he comes back.”
Off-air, Fallon revealed he had reached out to Kimmel to offer support and praised other hosts like Stephen Colbert, stating, “We need to entertain and make people happy in this crazy world.”
Colbert and Kimmel Face Industry Backlash
The shake-up in late night programming isn’t isolated.
Colbert was fired in July after criticizing CBS’ parent company Paramount for settling a $16 million lawsuit with Trump amid a merger.
ABC suspended Kimmel following controversial remarks about the man accused of shooting conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, which drew ire from conservatives and prompted potential FCC scrutiny.
FCC Considers Investigating Controversial Remarks
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said he was evaluating the situation and hinted that consequences could extend to other late night hosts.
“We’re not done yet with seeing the consequences of that shift,” Carr remarked, referring to the changing media landscape under Trump’s influence.
President Trump himself later suggested that networks critical of him could risk losing their broadcast licenses, labeling them “an arm of the Democrat Party.”
Networks and Hosts Navigate Political Pressure
ABC executives moved quickly after Nexstar Communications announced it would stop airing Kimmel’s show on 23 ABC-affiliated stations, citing his comments as “offensive and insensitive.”
Emergency meetings at the network ultimately led to Kimmel’s suspension.
The futures of Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon remain uncertain, but the debate highlights the tension between late night satire, free speech, and political influence in the United States media landscape.