Jimmy Kimmel Says His Battles With Trump Have Cost ABC ‘Billions’
Kimmel said his clashes with President Donald Trump and regulators drove major costs for Disney, while ABC promoted a 25% viewer gain.
- On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel roasted the industry at the Disney Upfronts, joking that his battles with President Donald Trump cost the Disney Corporation "billions."
- Kimmel's self-deprecating remarks referenced his September 2025 suspension from "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr pressured Disney and Nexstar to preempt episodes citing DEI practices.
- Despite controversies, Kimmel touted ratings up 25% among the 18 to 49 demographic, joking that legendary "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson would have "gone straight under the sink" with his numbers.
- Kimmel also targeted CBS, noting the network turned "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" time slot into a "leased" space airing "Comics Unleashed" featuring Paula Poundstone and Andy Dick.
- Tensions persist with the White House, as Melania Trump recently rebuked Kimmel over an "expectant widow" remark made before the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner, while calls for his removal continue.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel says battle with Trump costs ABC ‘billions’; says feud boosts ratings
Jimmy Kimmel said his feud with Donald Trump has cost ABC billions while boosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” ratings. He joked about his impact at a Disney event and defended political satire, citing First Amendment protections amid ongoing disputes and criticism from the White House.
Jimmy Kimmel "Jokes" He Cost Disney Billions During Defiant Upfronts Presentation
Jimmy Kimmel Live’s presentation at the annual Disney upfronts event was supposed to reassure advertisers, celebrate upcoming programming, and convince brands that the company remains a stable entertainment powerhouse. Instead, Kimmel took the stage and openly joked that he has cost Disney “billions” while mocking the event itself as “bulls**t” right to the faces of the very advertisers he was supposed to be reassuring. During the Jimmy Kimmel D…
Jimmy Kimmel Is in Pure DGAF Mode and It's Pretty Great
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