Karoline Leavitt Says Obama Is Wrong About Trump and ABC’s Decision to Pull Jimmy Kimmel From the Air
The controversy over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension has only grown louder, and now it has pulled in two of the biggest names in politics. Former President Barack Obama suggested that the Trump administration may have leaned on ABC to take Kimmel off the air, calling it part of a broader pattern of government coercion against the press. His comments sparked immediate backlash, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a pointed response that quickly grabbed headlines.
Speaking to Fox News, Leavitt dismissed Obama’s claim outright. “He has no idea what he’s talking about,” she said firmly. She explained that the decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! was made entirely by ABC executives, not by the White House, and that President Trump had no involvement in the process. According to Leavitt, Trump himself only learned of the suspension after it had already been announced. She recalled being with the president on a state visit to the United Kingdom when the news broke, and said she was the one who informed him of what had happened.
The suspension came after Kimmel made controversial remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, comments that critics said crossed the line between comedy and cruelty. ABC announced that the late-night show would be suspended indefinitely, and Nexstar Media Group, which owns many ABC affiliates, went even further by pre-empting the program. The decision triggered a national debate about free speech, accountability, and the blurry line between entertainment and politics.
Obama, who has often defended the role of comedians and entertainers as important cultural voices, argued that removing Kimmel from the air in such a way raised serious concerns about political interference. But Leavitt pushed back strongly, insisting that ABC’s decision had nothing to do with the White House. Instead, she said the network acted because of what she described as Kimmel’s “knowingly lying to his audience” during a highly sensitive moment. For Leavitt, this was about corporate responsibility, not censorship.
Her comments reflect the broader message the Trump administration has been trying to send in the wake of the suspension. They want to make clear that the government is not in the business of controlling what shows stay on the air, even if those shows are highly critical of the president. By saying Obama “has no idea,” Leavitt was underscoring the administration’s argument that the former president’s remarks are based more on speculation than fact.
The entire episode highlights just how politically charged late-night television has become. What was once a space for light-hearted comedy has turned into a nightly battleground over culture and politics, with hosts like Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and others regularly targeting conservative figures. Supporters of Kirk felt Kimmel’s comments went too far, crossing a line from comedy into disrespect, while defenders of Kimmel argue that pulling him off the air is a dangerous precedent that chills free expression.
For many viewers, this is not simply a debate about one show or one host. It is a reflection of the deeper divides in American culture, where even a late-night monologue can set off a national firestorm. Obama’s intervention added fuel to the fire, suggesting that there is a darker story behind Kimmel’s suspension, while Leavitt’s rebuttal sought to close the door firmly on that idea.
The truth may lie somewhere in the middle of perception and reality, but for now, the battle lines are clear. ABC says it made its own decision. Obama says there may be political pressure behind it. Leavitt says that accusation is false. And ordinary Americans are left once again watching politics play out on the stage of entertainment, wondering whether the shows they tune into each night are truly free to say what they want, or whether every joke comes with strings attached.
