Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is set to interview James Talarico, the Democratic Texas Senate candidate. But the interview will not air on his famed late-night talk show.
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Kimmel Says Trump, FCC Sent Threats Over Talarico Interview
During the Wednesday (September 8) episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the talk show host revealed that he would go one-on-one with the democratic candidate. But had to disappoint many with the news that the interview would be under "unusual circumstances." He revealed that the interview would air exclusively on YouTube. Due to threats he received from United States President Donald Trump and the FCC.
"[Trump's] FCC has threatened me, threatened our show, threatened our network, ABC, our affiliates, our local stations — based on simple, traditional editorial decisions, guest bookings it would seem they don't like." He said during the monologue, as caught by Rolling Stone, "out of consideration for our local stations, especially our ABC affiliates in Texas who would have to deal with this nonsense."
Host Calls Out Trump For Hypocrisy
The talk show host also noted how he has interviewed several politicians who were running for office over the years. The same way that other talk show hosts such as Arsenio Hall, David Letterman, and Jay Leno did before him. He also called out President Trump for his hypocrisy. Kimmel noted that Trump was one of the candidates that he interviewed when he was running for President in 2016. And didn't have a problem with being interviewed when it was him who was trying to secure votes.
"At that time, when he was the one sitting next to me, he seemed to have no problem with the idea of talk show hosts interviewing candidates," Kimmel said. "But for some reason, and I can't seem to figure out what that reason is, something has changed now that he is president."
Fans on social media had a lot to say about Kimmel's comments.
"Literal example of government censorship by the trump administration btw," one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Except all he has to do - and under DECADES old rules - is interview both candidates," a second user chimed in.
At the time of writing, President Trump has not responded to Kimmel's comments.
