President Donald Trump started and ended his day attacking Jimmy Kimmel. The president's afternoon interview also raised the stakes for ABC after some lobbing some thinly-veiled threats at the network.
Speaking with Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax, Trump dismissed any notion that Kimmel could smooth things over with an apology. After the host incorrectly stated Kimmel said sorry for his "expectant widow" joke regarding First Lady Melania Trump, the president went off on the late-night comedian and his network bosses at ABC.
“I haven’t heard him apologize, but he’s a lowlife,” Trump said. “Whether he apologized or not, he’s a lowlife. He always has been. He shouldn’t be on television.” It's worth noting that Kimmel recently pulled receipts of Trump praising him at event years before becoming a politician. But President Trump has always demonstrated selective memory when it comes to his public feuds.
President Trump's comments on Newsmax continued a pattern of insults Trump has deployed throughout the days, weeks, and years he's spent responding to late-night. He once again labeled Kimmel “unfunny” and claimed Jimmy Kimmel Live! has poor ratings. But the interview went further, with President Trump questioning why ABC is allowed to air Kimmel’s program at all.
“I don’t know how a guy can be on television where the network gets free airwaves from the United States government and spend 100% of his time knocking Republicans and conservatives and Trump,” he said. “It’s not supposed to work that way. You know, equal time provisions… not supposed to work that way.”
President Trump also suggested that The Walt Disney Company, ABC’s parent company, could face consequences for keeping Kimmel on the air. He referenced a $16 million payment he says the network made in connection a libel lawsuit stemming from when George Stephanopoulos stated Trump was found liable for "rape," while the jury actually found him liable for "sexual abuse."
This afternoon's interview comes amid reports that the Federal Communications Commission under Chairman Brendan Carr is considering an early review of Disney’s broadcast licenses. Industry experts have called it an unusual move that has already drawn concern from industry groups and lawmakers.
On Thursday, Carr publicly stated that President Trump has no influence over the FCC’s review process. But the president's comments, particularly his references to ABC’s use of public airwaves and the suggestion that the network is in “jeopardy,” are likely to raise further questions.
While the insults are nothing new for Jimmy Kimmel, the situation continues to get complicated for his bosses. So far, Disney has stood behind Kimmel rather than cave in to political pressure. However, the president seems like he's not letting this one go anytime soon.
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