WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former late-night host Conan O’Brien issued a rare public statement Monday, sharply criticizing the suspension of fellow comedian Jimmy Kimmel and warning against broader efforts to silence television personalities who speak out against the Trump administration.
“The suspension of @jimmykimmel and the promise to silence other Late Night hosts for criticizing the administration should disturb everyone on the Right, Left, and Center,” O’Brien wrote on social media. “It’s wrong and anyone with a conscience knows it’s wrong.”
Kimmel, a longtime critic of Donald Trump, was recently taken off air after a series of monologues targeting the former president and current Republican candidate. Reports suggest other late-night hosts may face similar restrictions, raising concerns among free speech advocates.
O’Brien’s intervention marks a significant moment in the ongoing clash between Trump and America’s late-night comedy circuit, which has long served as an outlet for political satire. While O’Brien retired from late-night television in 2021, his voice still carries weight across the industry.
Critics warn that suspensions like Kimmel’s could set a dangerous precedent for media freedom in the United States. Trump’s campaign has not yet responded to O’Brien’s remarks.
