Fox’s Brit Hume Backs Right to Drop Kimmel — But Wary That FCC Chair Got ‘Involved’

Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume flagged his wariness that Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr got “involved” in criticizing Jimmy Kimmel with remarks that then set in motion the show’s later suspension.

Backlash against Kimmel was already well underway online over a Monday monologue about MAGA and the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk when Carr’s commented in an interview with conservative host Benny Johnson.

In the interview, he urged “individual licensed stations” to “step up.” Hours later, Nexstar moved to preempt the program, and ABC soon followed by announcing that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be suspended indefinitely.

Reacting to the suspension on Wednesday, Hume offered a more guarded take than most on the right.

Taking to X on Wednesday night, he highlighted the risk of appearing to use federal authority to gently pressure broadcasters into silencing voices in the media while also defending ABC’s right to suspend Kimmel as a private-sector matter:

By contrast, many within MAGA, including President Donald Trump, praised ABC for “finally having the courage to do what had to be done.” Other right-wing commentators were similarly jubilant. Top Democrats, meanwhile, warned the move was the beginning of a crackdown on free speech.

Yet Hume’s pointedly balanced take separated ABC’s corporate right to act from what he suggested was an unnecessary and troubling show of government interference.