Kimmel Could Face Federal Probe Over Charlie Kirk Comments

Now-former late-night host Jimmy Kimmel could soon face a federal review after spreading a false narrative about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

During his Monday monologue, Kimmel told viewers that Tyler Robinson — the 22-year-old charged with gunning down Kirk in Utah — was a MAGA supporter. Prosecutors, however, have described Robinson as a leftist with no connection to the MAGA movement.

The smear drew immediate backlash, including from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who told conservative host Benny Johnson on Wednesday that the agency is reviewing possible actions against Kimmel and ABC.

“When you look at the conduct that has taken place by Jimmy Kimmel, it appears to be some of the sickest conduct possible,” Carr said.

Carr suggested that ABC’s broadcasting license could be at risk if the network continues to allow its platforms to be used for politically charged falsehoods. “These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead,” Carr warned.

A Pattern of Media Corruption

Kimmel refused to apologize, reportedly telling ABC executives he would not “kowtow” to political pressure. That refusal has only deepened tensions inside ABC and Disney, both of which face mounting pressure from affiliates, syndicators, and advertisers concerned about the fallout.

Broadcast groups Sinclair and Nexstar — which syndicate ABC content — have already signaled they could pull programming over the controversy.

Carr emphasized that broadcast licenses come with obligations. “The FCC could make a strong argument that this is sort of an intentional effort to mislead the American people about a very core fundamental fact,” he said.

Trump Changed the Media Landscape

Carr also credited President Donald Trump with breaking the stranglehold of legacy media. “One thing that President Trump did when he ran for office was run directly at that legacy media establishment,” Carr noted. “He smashed the façade that they get to control what we say, what we think, the narrative around events.”

Since Trump’s return to the White House, that shift has accelerated. Colbert is off CBS. Joy Reid is gone from MSNBC. ABC’s own Terry Moran recently admitted on-air that the network has been biased. NPR and PBS are facing defunding threats.

Kimmel’s lie about Kirk’s killer may be the latest — and most costly — example of what happens when the Left weaponizes broadcast platforms to deceive the public.