This week, the media world saw a major shake-up. Jimmy Kimmel, a late-night host known for mocking conservatives, has been suspended. He’s off the air after making false and hateful comments about Charlie Kirk, a conservative leader who was recently assassinated. In his place, many ABC stations will now air a tribute to Charlie Kirk.
As someone who served this country and values truth and honor, I’ve got a few things to say.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest owner of ABC affiliate stations in the country, made the right call. They didn’t just suspend Kimmel’s show — they replaced it with something meaningful. A tribute to a man who dedicated his life to standing up for freedom, faith, and the Constitution. Charlie Kirk was a fighter for American values, and he didn’t deserve to be smeared on national television, especially not right after he was murdered.
Kimmel crossed a line. On his show, he claimed the killer was part of what he called the “MAGA gang,” implying the shooter was a right-wing extremist. But the facts from the investigation tell a different story. The killer was motivated by left-wing ideology. He wasn’t some conservative radical. He was someone driven by hate for the very principles Charlie Kirk stood for.
That didn’t stop Kimmel from going on air and mocking not just Kirk, but President Trump too. Trump, who was mourning the loss of a close friend, was ridiculed by Kimmel in one of the lowest moments we’ve seen on national TV in a long time. Kimmel made fun of the way Trump grieved, comparing it to a child mourning a goldfish. That’s not comedy. That’s cruelty.
ABC finally took action and suspended Kimmel indefinitely. But Sinclair didn’t wait around for the network to do the right thing. They took a stand and said enough is enough. They’re airing a tribute to Charlie Kirk in Kimmel’s old time slot. And they’re offering that tribute to every ABC affiliate in the country.
Sinclair didn’t stop there. They’re demanding that Kimmel apologize directly to the Kirk family and Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded. They’re also asking him to make a personal donation to the family. That’s the kind of accountability we need more of in the media world.
Sinclair’s leadership said it best — broadcasters have a responsibility to elevate respectful and constructive dialogue. That doesn’t mean we all have to agree. But it does mean we treat each other with basic decency, especially when someone has been murdered. Kimmel failed that test.
Even Nexstar, another big company that owns ABC stations, came out against Kimmel. They said his comments were offensive and didn’t reflect the values of the communities they serve. That’s a clear sign that people across the country — not just conservatives — are tired of Hollywood elites using their platforms to divide us and spread falsehoods.
This whole situation shows why we need local control over media. When big national networks push a one-sided narrative, local stations need to have the freedom to push back. Sinclair and Nexstar are doing just that. They’re standing up for honesty and integrity, and they’re refusing to let one man’s hate-filled rant define the national conversation.
As a veteran, I fought for the right to speak freely. But with that freedom comes responsibility. You don’t get to lie about a dead man, mock his friends, and still expect to keep your platform. Jimmy Kimmel learned that the hard way.
Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk. Your work for freedom will not be forgotten. And to those who try to mock or silence men like him — we see you. And we’re not going to let you win.
