On his return, Kimmel addressed the controversy and expressed appreciation for those who stood by him in his emotional opening monologue.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr backed the effort to pressure ABC, accusing Kimmel of trying to mislead viewers into thinking Kirk’s killer was politically motivated. Some Nexstar-owned ABC affiliates are still refusing to air Kimmel’s show and said they will “monitor” his return. Kimmel received support from across the entertainment world during his suspension. The ACLU organized a protest letter signed by several high-profile industry figures.
The clash adds to Trump’s long-running battle with media outlets he sees as adversarial. He has a history of filing lawsuits against news organizations throughout his political career.