Former Vice President Kamala Harris suggested Saturday night that the temporary suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel was tied to President Donald Trump’s inability to tolerate satire. Speaking at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards Gala, Harris used her keynote address to highlight what she described as the perils of a “fragile ego” at the highest level of government. While she did not directly name Trump, her comments repeatedly referenced “the president” and framed the controversy around Kimmel as a cautionary example of political overreach.
“When a president with a fragile ego couldn’t take the joke and brought down the weight of the federal government to silence the voice of a citizen, folks spoke with their pocketbooks this week, and Jimmy Kimmel is now back on the air,” Harris said, drawing applause from attendees.
The controversy surrounding Kimmel began two weeks ago after the host commented on his show regarding the alleged assassin of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Kimmel’s remarks suggested that right-wing commentators were attempting to mischaracterize the suspect’s political alignment, despite official reports confirming the individual’s leftist ideology. “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel stated.
The backlash from these comments prompted several broadcasting companies, including Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, to preempt Kimmel’s program on their ABC affiliates, citing concerns over “ill-timed” and “insensitive” content. Disney subsequently suspended the show, only to return it to air the following Tuesday.
Trump later weighed in, attributing the suspension to Kimmel’s “lack of talent,” while media commentators and Democratic politicians placed the responsibility on the former president, pointing to pressure from the Federal Communications Commission following remarks by FCC Chair Brendan Carr. Kimmel himself addressed the incident upon returning to late-night television, criticizing the FCC for what he described as an infringement on free speech.
During her speech at the gala, Harris also pivoted to a broader political message, urging Democratic leaders and attendees to prioritize victory in the 2026 midterm elections. She framed the upcoming contests as essential for countering what she called “an unchecked, incompetent, unhinged president.” Harris concluded her remarks by praising the courage of the audience, calling on them to “fight fire with fire” in the political arena.
