U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the suspension of talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel and suggested broadcasters should lose licenses over negative coverage, intensifying a national debate on free speech and government pressure.
ABC suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following conservative uproar over his remarks about assassinated activist Charlie Kirk. The move drew swift criticism from writers, performers, and former U.S. President Barack Obama, who called it capitulation to government coercion. About 150 protesters gathered outside Kimmel’s Hollywood studio on Thursday (18 September), holding signs and denouncing Disney’s decision.
Trump’s remarks in London
Speaking alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump labelled Kimmel “untalented” and attacked him for comments on Kirk. Later, onboard Air Force One, Trump said TV stations should have their licenses reviewed, accusing broadcasters of giving him only negative publicity.
FCC and political pressure
Kimmel’s suspension came after FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to investigate his commentary. Owners of local TV affiliates, including Nexstar and Sinclair, signalled they would stop airing his show. Federal law bars the FCC from revoking licenses based on unfavourable coverage, but critics say Trump’s repeated threats undermine constitutional protections.
Broader debate
Kirk’s murder has polarised U.S. opinion. Trump allies have demanded critics show respect for Kirk, while opponents argue the administration is weaponising regulation to silence dissent. Obama, unions, and the ACLU said the suspension represented an assault on First Amendment rights. Protesters in Hollywood warned the country was “going in a really wrong direction” if satire and criticism are punished.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has returned to the South American nation almost a year after she secretly left the countr...
Uzbekistan summoned Iran’s ambassador following claims by several Iranian diplomatic missions that the historical and architectural heri...
Kazakhstan marks Republic Day on 25 October with an ambitious economic agenda and a growing partnership with Azerbaijan, as the two Caspian neighbo...
Around 11,000 people joined a demonstration in Orléans on Saturday against the National Rally congress, according to the local prefecture.
Typhoon Champi swept past Taiwan on Saturday, leaving one person dead and more than 500 injured as strong winds and torrential rain brought down trees, cut power and disrupted transport across the island.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday described a deadly shooting in the towns of Trappes and La Verrière, west of Paris, as a racist attack and ‘a turning point’ for the country.
Israeli forces have maintained a tight closure on Hebron in the occupied West Bank for a second day, with Palestinian media reporting home raids, mass detentions and dozens of residents forced outside following a shooting incident the day before.
Foreign ministers meeting in Istanbul on Friday warned that renewed military strikes on Iran could deepen the regional conflict, urging diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has returned to the South American nation almost a year after she secretly left the country to travel to Norway for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
Riot police fired tear gas at protesters in France’s largest cities and more than 1,300 people were arrested during demonstrations against the rising cost of living on Saturday (24 October). Police also used a water cannon on a group of around 500 hooded youths in Paris, after the main rally ended.
Ukraine's military has been hit this month by restrictions on Starshield, the military version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications system. Its receivers stopped functioning when mounted on fast-moving objects such as drones, jeopardising some combat and air defence missions.
At least five people were killed and several others injured in overnight attacks across Russia and Ukraine on Sunday, 25 October, as officials reported strikes on residential areas and industrial facilities, while Moscow claimed to have targeted logistics infrastructure and a cargo vessel.
Protests against war and rising living costs took place in major Italian cities on Saturday, with some incidents of violence and clashes, a week after unrest erupted across the country.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment