Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pressuring Disney to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night program, calling the comedian’s suspension a threat to free expression and democracy, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Disney announced Wednesday night that Kimmel’s show would be suspended indefinitely following remarks he made about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Kirk was killed last week by a student identified as having far-left views.

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San Marcos, TX / United States - Oct. 24 2018: Turning Point USA founder and president Charlie Kirk during a visit to Texas State University in San Marcos.

During Monday’s episode, Kimmel criticized conservatives for how they characterized the shooter.

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“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them — and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said.

The backlash prompted Disney to act.

“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, in a Wednesday statement.

Schumer, the highest-ranking Democrat in the country, defended Kimmel and urged him to fight the suspension in court. “America is meant to be a bastion of free speech,” Schumer wrote on X.

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“Everybody across the political spectrum should be speaking out to stop what’s happening to Jimmy Kimmel.” He added, “This is about protecting democracy. This must go to court.”

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President Donald Trump celebrated the suspension on Truth Social, saying ABC had finally taken the right step.

“Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. 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,” Trump wrote.

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Trump continued, “That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!”

Kimmel’s removal has sparked anger among his supporters on the left. On Bluesky, commentators compared the suspension to authoritarian crackdowns, with some calling it evidence of a “fascist takeover.”

The dispute highlights the political tensions surrounding Kirk’s assassination and the national debate over speech, media responsibility, and the boundaries of political commentary.

With legal action now on the table and both political parties weighing in, Kimmel’s case could become a flashpoint in the broader cultural battle over how far television networks can go in disciplining their hosts.

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