JD Vance calls on Jimmy Kimmel to apologize to Erika Kirk after return from suspension

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday, September 23, that he would "love" Jimmy Kimmel to apologize to conservative icon Charlie Kirk's wife, Erika, and the people he "slandered" after returning on Tuesday, September 23, following a brief suspension.

Kimmel's show was pulled off-air last week after his statement on Kirk's killing, which drew backlash from conservatives and Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr. ABC and Disney "indefinitely" suspended the show and its host. 

JD Vance slams Jimmy Kimmel for blaming conservatives in Charlie Kirk's killing

During an interview on 'The Ingraham Angle,' Vice President JD Vance was asked by host Laura Ingraham about Jimmy Kimmel not apologizing, and whether it would matter if he did.

Vance said, "I think it would matter. I would love Jimmy Kimmel to apologize to Erika, and to all of the people that he slandered."

"He tries to say that he told a joke. He didn't tell a joke. He was actually accusing right-wing America, conservative America, of killing Charlie Kirk," the VP added. He further said, "We now know that is false. Charlie Kirk was murdered by a left-wing shooter who was radicalized by some of the rhetoric that we see coming from the far-Left."

"When you accuse the people who've been holding prayer vigils, who have been praying about Charlie Kirk, you accuse them of killing Charlie Kirk, when we know it was a left-wing shooter, you're actually apologizing for his murder, you're encouraging more of that violence to happen," Vance stated.

The VP also added, "If we're going to stop this crazy strain of left-wing violence, we have to be honest about what it is, and the honest truth is that Charlie Kirk was not killed by a MAGA American. He was not killed by a Republican. He was killed by a left-wing radical. Let's be honest about that fact, so that we can stop it from happening."

Kimmel’s remarks on September 15 criticized the Republican response to Kirk’s killing, accusing the "MAGA gang" of trying to politicize the tragedy by portraying the shooter as "anything other than one of them."

Meanwhile, Tyler Robinson, Kirk's alleged shooter, was arrested a few days after the incident and charged with aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, among other offenses. 

JD Vance says Kimmel spread disinformation about Charlie Kirk's shooter

During a recent appearance in North Carolina, JD Vance accused late-night host Jimmy Kimmel of spreading false claims and failing to address the harm caused by his remarks.

Vance said that Kimmel’s comments were not only offensive but also misleading, insisting that the apology offered was incomplete.

"He didn’t actually say sorry to Charlie Kirk or his family," Vance said. "And the reason why so many people, including me, were upset with what Jimmy Kimmel said is that he accused Charlie Kirk’s murderer of being a MAGA. It wasn’t a joke — it was straight-up disinformation, and I really wish Jimmy Kimmel would apologize for it," he added.

During a Q&A session at the North Carolina rally, a reporter asked Vance about the fallout from Kimmel’s monologue and the role of the FCC.

The VP responded, "Well, look, on the free speech conversation, I’m pretty sure that Jimmy Kimmel was back on the air last night, and to the extent that he’s not back on the air, it’s because he’s not funny and has terrible ratings. This is not a federal government problem."

"What people will say is, ‘Well, didn’t the FCC commissioner put a tweet out that said something bad?’ Well..., compare that — the FCC Commissioner making a joke on social media. What is the government action that the Trump administration has engaged in to kick Jimmy Kimmel or anybody else off the air? Zero," Vance added.