America's late-night luminaries united in solidarity on Thursday, voicing their support for suspended talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and levying serious accusations of authoritarianism against President Donald Trump. ABC faced intense scrutiny for pulling Kimmel's show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", off air following his controversial remarks linking the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to the MAGA movement, which incited a fierce reaction from Trump's supporters.

Stephen Colbert, whose own show was previously canceled after he critiqued a network settlement with Trump, did not mince words during his CBS opening monologue. He denounced the actions taken by ABC and the Trump administration as "blatant censorship," warning, "With an autocrat, you cannot give an inch. If ABC thinks that this is going to satisfy the regime, they are woefully naive."

Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" contributed to the discourse by satirically playing the part of a dictator's sycophant against a gaudy, gold backdrop—a jab at Trump's aesthetic choices during his presidency. Stewart sarcastically promised a "fun, hilarious, administration-compliant show," with guest Maria Ressa, author of "How To Stand Up To A Dictator: The Fight for Our Future."

Over on NBC's "The Tonight Show," Jimmy Fallon praised Kimmel as "a decent, funny, and loving guy," urging his reinstatement. His commentary on Trump’s recent U.K. visit was humorously interrupted by a voiceover extolling the president's virtues, highlighting the pervasive fear of censorship.

The suspension, enacted after Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed FCC chair, labeled Kimmel's comments as "truly sick" and hinted at harsh repercussions, has sparked a significant backlash. Prominent Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have called for Carr's resignation.

In an impromptu statement, Trump dismissed the criticisms surrounding the decision to suspend Kimmel, attributing it to poor ratings and controversial comments, rather than a direct attack on free speech. "They should have fired him a long time ago," Trump stated, ambiguously adding, "So, you know, you could call that free speech or not."

The incident also drew comments from former President Barack Obama, who decried the administration's actions on X (formerly Twitter), describing them as an escalation of cancel culture to a "new and dangerous level" and a misuse of power to silence dissent.

Veteran talk show host David Letterman and sports podcasting icon Bill Simmons also entered the fray, with Letterman criticizing the fear-driven decision and Simmons slamming the network’s capitulation to governmental pressure.

The story of Kimmel's suspension has not only highlighted the tension between entertainment and politics but also underscored the growing concerns over free speech under the Trump administration. As Seth Meyers quipped on his show, amid warnings of a crackdown, "I just wanted to say that I have always admired and respected Mr. Trump," his tone dripping with irony.