Recommendations of the Editorial team
Former Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the Trump government because of her “attack on freedom of expression”, After ABC Jimmy Kimmel suspended Charlie Kirk about his comments.
Critics of politicians and celebrities
“What we experience here is a clear abuse of power,” Harris wrote directly to X. without a Kimmel. “This government attacks critics and uses fear as a weapon to silence everyone who expresses itself. Media companies – from television stations to newspapers – surrender of these threats.”
She added: “In view of this frontal attack, we must not be silent or indifferent. We, the people, earn better.”
Harris is involved in a long list of politicians and celebrities who, according to ABC, Jimmy Kimmel Live! to take from the broadcaster indefinitely, express their concern about the threat of freedom of expression.
California’s governor Gavin Newsom said that the Republican Party “Do not believe in freedom of expression”. He added: “These are not coincidences. It is coordinated. And it is dangerous. They censor you in real time.”
In a separate contribution to X, Barack Obama wrote: “After years in which they complained about Cancel Culture, the current government has raised this to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory measures against media companies if these reporters and commentators do not silence or relieve them of them.”
Background: pressure from government and transmitters
An ABC spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that Kimmel’s show was hired, shortly after Nexstar-the largest US television broadcaster-had taken the late night show out of his program.
In his Monday show, Kimmel had criticized right circles of wanting to “capitalize on political capital” from Kirk’s murder.
“We reached a new low at the weekend when the Maga troop tried desperately to present this guy who murdered Charlie Kirk as something different from one of them. And does everything to make political capital from it,” said Kimmel in his monologue.
The next day, President Donald Trump’s chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, publicly demanded that licensed broadcaster Kimmel’s show no longer radiate. “We can do this on the simple or hard tour,” said Carr in an interview with the conservative podcaster Benny Johnson. “These companies can change their behavior and take measures, openly, against Kimmel. Or there will be additional work for the FCC.”