White House rejects Jimmy Kimmel’s claim FCC 'threatened' him over James Talarico interview

WASHINGTON, DC: Jimmy Kimmel’s accusation that the FCC pressured his show over a political interview has sparked another clash with the White House, and the administration has rejected his account.

Kimmel explained Thursday, September 10, why his interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico would not air on television.

He said the FCC had “threatened” him, ABC, his show and local stations over what he described as “simple, traditional” editorial decisions.

Jimmy Kimmel says FCC pressure affected James Talarico interview

Kimmel argued that the administration feared the upcoming midterms and a possible Senate loss in Texas.

The White House, however, says that version of events is not true.

Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson, rejected Kimmel’s accusation in a statement to The Daily Beast. Ingle accused the comedian of “play-acting” and creating a “false narrative.”

Ingle also said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr had not threatened Kimmel over Talarico or any other candidate. He urged media outlets to ask for evidence of the alleged pressure, saying “they would find none.”

White House and Jimmy Kimmel have clashed over FCC issues

Carr took Kimmel’s program off the air for a week last September after right-wing complaints over Kimmel’s remarks about the MAGA response to Charlie Kirk’s murder.

The tensions continued in April, when Donald Trump called for ABC to punish Kimmel over a joke involving first lady Melania Trump.

The FCC later reviewed eight Disney broadcast licenses. ABC then filed a lawsuit in August, citing a First Amendment violation.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez also criticized the situation during an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett. Gomez said the commission was “meddling in content” and called that a First Amendment violation.

Jimmy Kimmel recalls Donald Trump appearing on his show

Kimmel also looked back at Trump’s earlier appearances on his program.

During Wednesday’s broadcast, Kimmel recalled Trump sitting beside him while he interviewed political candidates without a problem.

He joked that “something has changed,” though he said he could not figure out why. Despite the interview not airing on television, viewers still got to see Kimmel’s conversation with Talarico.

The show posted the interview on YouTube Thursday. Kimmel said the move meant they were “bypassing the public airwaves.”