() The ABC network has taken “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air indefinitely after comments the late-night host made about the Sept. 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The move from ABC also comes after Nexstar Media Group announced it would preempt Kimmel’s show and replace it with other programming. Nexstar, which owns , also owns 32 ABC affiliates, including KTVX in Salt Lake City.

“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division.  

“Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to preempt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue.”

FCC Chair Brendan Carr on Wednesday had urged local broadcasters to stop airing the show on ABC.

What did Jimmy Kimmel say?

During his show on Monday night, Kimmel said the country “hit some new lows over the weekend,” when the “MAGA gang desperately tried to characterize this kid who killed Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

The 57-year-old comedian, who has had a late-night show on ABC since 2003, accused Republicans of trying to “score political points” from Kirk’s death.

Kimmel then criticized President Trump after airing video of the president taking a question about Kirk’s death. In the clip, Trump abruptly changes the subject to talk about a planned White House ballroom. Kimmel joked Trump was mourning Charlie Kirk “the way a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish.”

Kirk, a 31-year-old Trump ally, was killed last week during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, as he debated students with different political views. After a 33-hour manhunt, authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson for the attack, which Utah Gov. Spencer Cox characterized as a political assassination.

Robinson was formally charged Tuesday, and state prosecutors have indicated they will seek the death penalty.

President Trump expressed elation at Kimmel’s cancelation, writing in a Truth Social post, “Great News for America.”

“Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible,” Trump continued, referring to CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert.

Continuing fallout from Charlie Kirk’s death

Republicans and Democrats alike condemned Kirk’s murder, but the killing has heightened tensions in an already divided nation, with the assassination seen as the latest example of political violence in the U.S.

Before Kimmel’s comments this week, other commentators celebrities and noncelebrities alike have faced consequences for remarks they made about Kirk or the circumstances of his death.

MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd was fired shortly after making on-air comments amid the first reports that Kirk had been shot. He apologized and said he wasn’t blaming Kirk for the attack.

Some critics had long characterized Kirk as a divisive figure because of his conservative and religious beliefs, but others, including many Democrats, praised Kirk for being willing to converse with opponents. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is said to be eyeing a 2028 White House bid, featured Kirk on the first episode of his podcast earlier this year.