Jimmy Kimmel says his feud with Trump cost his network millions.
Jimmy Kimmel Says Trump Feud Cost ABC and Disney ‘Billions’
May 13 2026, Published 2:10 p.m. ET
Jimmy Kimmel used Disney’s annual upfront presentation on Tuesday to joke about how his ongoing conflicts with President Donald Trump have made him a costly issue for ABC and its parent company.
The late-night host spoke to advertisers at Disney’s event in New York, where networks showcase upcoming programming and ad opportunities. Kimmel acknowledged the political attention surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live! and claimed that the backlash from his comments about Trump helped boost interest in the show.
Jimmy Kimmel opens up about the cost of his Trump feud.
“Yes, the president has tried to get me twice over the last six months; that’s one way to look at it,” Kimmel said, according to Business Insider. “You could also say I’ve generated unmatched engagement across various platforms.”
Kimmel then joked about the financial implications of keeping him employed.
“Hiring me 24 years ago, just from a purely mathematical standpoint, was the worst staffing decision the Disney corporation has ever made,” he remarked.
The Wrap reported that Kimmel told the audience he had cost Disney “a lot of money this year, billions,” adding, “It is very possible that no employee in the history of any company has cost their employer more.”
These comments followed a turbulent period for Kimmel, ABC, and Disney.
Kimmel’s show was briefly suspended last fall after a political uproar over a joke he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to Business Insider.
Kimmel encourages subscribers to cancel Paramount+ in protest to Colbert's show ending.
Kimmel also joked on Tuesday about being back on the upfront stage.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you guys again either,” he said. “But the bad boy of data and measurement solutions is back.”
Trump has repeatedly called for Kimmel to be fired. The latest criticism followed Kimmel’s April joke about first lady Melania Trump, which angered the president. Business Insider reported that Trump later stated Kimmel should be “immediately fired” from ABC.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) then ordered an early review of licenses for Disney’s eight ABC stations. Reuters reported that these licenses were not scheduled for review until October 2028.
The agency also began an inquiry into ABC’s The View regarding equal-time rules for political candidates.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the only Democrat on the commission, accused the Trump administration this week of using federal power to target Disney and ABC.
In a letter to Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, Gomez claimed the company faced “a sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control.”
Kimmel’s presentation included jokes about ABC programming and rival late-night hosts.
He took a jab at CBS’s replacement plan for The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, saying, “Poor Stephen; it’s bad enough to lose your job; imagine getting replaced by the owner of the Weather Channel,” according to TheWrap.
The host also sent Guillermo Rodriguez into the audience with a collection basket as part of his bit about the cost to Disney.
“It would help me a lot if you could kick in a little,” Kimmel said, according to The Wrap.
Kimmel wrapped up the routine with one last joke about his future at the network.
“That’s it for me, probably forever,” he said.