Stephen Colbert Calls Trump an ”Autocrat” Following Jimmy Kimmel Suspension
NEW YORK – September 19, 2025 – Stephen Colbert has publicly defended Jimmy kimmel following KimmelS suspension from ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, directly attributing the action to pressure from former President Donald Trump and characterizing Trump as an “autocrat.” The suspension, announced this week, has sparked widespread criticism and protests, raising concerns about the influence of political pressure on media organizations.
Colbert, who hosted shows on CBS and NBC for over three decades, described the situation as “managed media,” adding, “It’s no good.It’s silly. It’s ridiculous.” He drew a parallel to CBS’s earlier decision to cancel his own show, stating, “They took care of Colbert.”
According to Colbert,the move was motivated by the Ellison family,owners of skydance,seeking to avoid antagonizing Trump. “They got rid of him,” Colbert saeid, “Not only got rid of him, got rid of the whole franchise.” He revealed that Kimmel texted him Thursday morning and “is going to be fine,” adding Kimmel was “sitting up in bed taking nourishment.”
The controversy stems from Kimmel’s repeated criticism of Trump during his late-night monologue. Trump responded to Kimmel’s suspension Wednesday night on Truth Social, writing, “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible.” He further suggested NBC cancel “The Tonight Show Starring jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”
The suspension has drawn condemnation from other prominent figures. Former Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted Thursday, calling it “an outright abuse of power,” and warning that the administration is “attacking critics and using fear as a weapon to silence anyone who would speak out.” She added, “Media corporations…are capitulating to these threats. We cannot dare to be silent or complacent in the face of this frontal assault on free speech.”
Protests erupted Thursday outside Disney’s headquarters in Burbank, California, and in New York City. in New York, protestors chanted slogans including, “Kimmel stays, Trump must go” and “ABC, grow a spine.”
Jon Stewart also responded to the situation, unexpectedly hosting an episode of “The Daily show” on Thursday – a departure from his usual Monday schedule – and is scheduled to interview Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, author of “How to Stand Up to a Dictator.”
The incident underscores growing anxieties about the potential for political interference in the media landscape and the protection of free speech.
Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC. Versant would become the new parent company of CNBC upon Comcast’s planned spinoff of versant.
