Axelrod on Kimmel return: ‘We‘re not out of the woods’
Democratic analyst David Axelrod on Monday said despite ABC’s decision to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel, concerns regarding government censorship remain.
“The big story here is we still have a situation where government power was used to try and intimidate platforms from hosting people who were critical of the president. And it extends to the president threatening legal action against news organizations that are critical of him…,” Axelrod said during a Monday appearance on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront.”
“So, we‘re not out of the woods here by any stretch of the imagination, but we should celebrate, I think more than anything, the fact that Jimmy Kimmel stuck to his principles and that there was a well of outcry about it that caused — that caused Disney to bring him back,” he added.
After Kimmel’s removal, hundreds of show patrons boycotted Disney streaming platforms, movies in theaters and shared disdain for the company in social media posts online.
Disney said it chose to reinstate the show after “thoughtful” conversations with Kimmel.
“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive,” the network said in a Monday statement obtained by PBS.
“We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” it added.
Kimmel was criticized by conservative personalities and GOP lawmakers for falsely claiming the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk was undertaken by a member of the “MAGA movement.”
He also joked that President Trump was decrying the loss of Kirk, a trusted Republican adviser, “like a four-year-old mourning a gold fish.”
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr swiftly condemned Kimmel’s statements and urged companies to remove him from air.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said last week.
“These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
Sinclair Broadcasting and Nexstar, which owns The Hill, responded shortly after by announcing Kimmel’s show would not be broadcast on local stations. Both networks have not reversed their decision despite the show’s return.
Axelrod on Monday drew attention to President Trump’s celebration of Kimmel’s public punishment and said the nation was in a “tribal warfare” over the late night comedian.
Kimmel’s brief removal comes months ahead of his contract completion in 2026 and after late night host Stephen Colbert saw his show cancelled following his criticism of the Trump administration.
Axelrod said Kimmel could face the same swift end.
“Will affiliates abide by this decision? We’ll have to wait and see,” Axelrod told Burnett.
“But one thing I’ll tell you for sure. Donald Trump was concerned about his ratings.”
“I suggest that he watch the show tomorrow night because I imagine a lot of other people are going to be, too,” he added.