David Letterman calls Trump regime an 'authoritarian criminal administration' over Jimmy Kimmel suspension

WASHINGTON, DC: David Letterman defended Jimmy Kimmel and the current generation of late-night hosts after Kimmel’s sudden suspension by ABC. The network announced the move Wednesday evening, September 17, reportedly under pressure from the Trump administration.

The drama began after Kimmel criticized the MAGA movement for allegedly portraying Charlie Kirk’s suspected shooter as left-wing. President Donald Trump openly celebrated Kimmel’s removal.

David Letterman condemns Jimmy Kimmel suspension

David Letterman warned of a new era of “managed media,” criticizing growing censorship of late-night television hosts.

“This is misery,” Letterman said at The Atlantic Festival on Thursday. “In the world of somebody who is an authoritarian, maybe a dictatorship, sooner or later, everyone is going to be touched. But this is me.”

He expressed outrage over what he viewed as politically motivated crackdowns. “For 30 years, I did this for a living. I saw this happen. They took care of Colbert. That was rude. That was inexcusable. He deserved a great deal of credit. He’s in the Hall of Fame nine times!"

Letterman’s remarks came two months after CBS announced that 'The Late Show' with Stephen Colbert would end in May 2026. While the network cited financial reasons, critics speculated the decision aimed to appease Trump and his supporters.

"And to be manipulated like that because the Ellison family didn’t want to trouble Donald Trump, so they got rid of him — not only got rid of him, got rid of the whole franchise! It’s all gone! Good night,” Letterman continued.

Turning to Kimmel, he said, “I feel bad about this because we all see where this is going, correct? It’s managed media, and it’s no good.” He called Kimmel’s suspension “silly” and “ridiculous.” “You can’t fire somebody out of fear or to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration. That’s just not how this works.”

Internet reacts to David Letterman criticizing Trump administration

Letterman’s comments sparked a wave of online reaction, racking up over 1.2 million views and more than 1,000 comments.

One user criticized Kimmel, writing, “You can’t go around making up slander, either. Kimmel lied about the shooter being MAGA. He covered up the actions of a deranged Democrat because he knew his audience was gullible enough to believe him.”

Another user pushed back bluntly, “Go back to your cave!”

Some took a more sarcastic tone with one joking, "Oh look another clown who jumped the shark many moons ago 🤣."

Another commenter pointed out perceived hypocrisy, “Funny how they only ever speak up when it happens to one of them."

One user expressed a more nuanced view, "A little surprised Letterman doesn’t take the I disagree with the decision but it was also wrong what Jimmy said and constant framing of conservatives by liberals as enemies is not the answer either. We need to come together.”

Others focused on the financial angle behind the controversy. “They’re not afraid of Trump—they are afraid of losing out financially in various merger deals that could be hindered by the administration. Follow the money. It is all about money,” one individual commented.

Another critic wrote, “He insulted half the country while they were mourning, not a great career move.”

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online