President Donald Trump has been taking a victory lap since ABC introduced the indefinite suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following his feedback concerning the GOP exploiting the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
“Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” Trump wrote on Reality Social. “Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible.”
However new polling launched Friday means that the Kimmel brouhaha might truly backfire towards Trump and Republicans, who’re dancing on Kimmel’s metaphorical grave—even saying that the Trump administration’s push for his ouster didn’t violate his proper to free speech.
A cartoon by Clay Jones.
A YouGov ballot discovered that fifty% of adults disapprove of ABC’s determination to take away Kimmel’s present from the air in response to threats from Federal Communications Fee Director Brendan Carr. In the meantime, simply 35% approve of ABC’s transfer.
YouGov additionally requested respondents in the event that they imagine that Carr’s remarks are acceptable or not.
“But frankly, when you see stuff like this, I mean, look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel or, you know, there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead,” Carr stated.
Shortly after, ABC introduced Kimmel’s indefinite suspension.
Shock! Respondents thought Carr crossed the road.
In line with the ballot, 43% of adults stated that Carr’s feedback have been unacceptable, whereas simply 26% thought they have been acceptable.
What’s extra, the GOP’s efforts to color Kimmel’s feedback as out of line are additionally not working.
Right here’s what Kimmel truly stated:
We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang making an attempt to characterize this child who killed Charlie Kirk as something aside from certainly one of them.
What Kimmel stated is unequivocally true, as Trump, Republicans, and MAGA influencers have all labored time beyond regulation to assign blame for Kirk’s homicide to the “left” to gin up outrage towards Democrats writ massive.
Since Kimmel’s ouster, Democrats and a handful of Republicans have condemned the Trump administration’s push to squelch free speech. Even odious GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas stated that the FCC should not be dictating what can and can’t be stated on tv.
“That’s right out of ‘Goodfellas,’” Cruz said on his podcast. “We shouldn’t be threatening government power to force him off air. That’s a real mistake.”
Kimmel is perhaps off the air for now, but when Republicans proceed to go after free speech, it might harm them for years to return.
