Senator Ted Cruz has emerged as an unlikely ally of Jimmy Kimmel, after the Federal Communications Commission reacted angrily to a joke made by the comedian about Melania Trump.
“It is not the government's job to censor speech, and I do not believe the FCC should operate as the speech police,” the Texas Republican told Punchbowl News Tuesday.
It comes after Kimmel delivered a mock White House Correspondent’s dinner speech on his show Jimmy Kimmel, Live! during which he described the First Lady as having “glow like an expectant widow” – sparking backlash from the GOP.
Days after the show aired, a gunman stormed the real press gala in Washington D.C. in an apparent attempt to shoot President Donald Trump and other high ranking administration officials before being apprehended by the Secret Service.
As a result, on Tuesday the FCC demanded an early review of eight ABC TV licenses held by parent company Disney in order to determine if the broadcaster violated its “prohibition on unlawful discrimination.”
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, an ally of the president, already hinted that Disney’s broadcast license may be subject to review over its DEI policies – which he has opposed previously.
However, his renewed calls come following Kimmel’s joke which has seen public condemnation from officials including Trump, the First Lady and other top figures in the administration – especially in the aftermath of Saturday’s attack.
In a rare statement, Melania Trump described Kimmel’s monologue as “hateful and violent rhetoric … intended to divide our country.”
“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate,” she wrote on X, adding. “Enough is enough… How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community.”
Cruz also criticized the FCC last September when Kimmel was briefly taken off the air following comments he made about the death of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk in September.
The backlash from that caused global repercussions for Disney, including complaints made to ABC and its affiliates in Australia and Europe.
“I hate what Jimmy Kimmel said, I am thrilled that he was fired,” Cruz said at the time. “But let me tell you: If the government gets in the business of saying, ‘We don’t like what you, the media, have said; we’re going to ban you from the airwaves if you don’t say what we like’—that will end up bad for conservatives.”
