A brand-new national poll has left the media world in disbelief — showing late-night liberal Jimmy Kimmel beating President Donald Trump in public favorability following a high-profile censorship scandal that backfired on ABC and Disney.
The controversy erupted last month when ABC abruptly suspended Kimmel’s show “indefinitely” after Trump-appointed FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr blasted the comedian for repeatedly mocking the President. The suspension was cheered by Trump supporters who viewed it as long-overdue accountability — but the Left quickly went into meltdown.
Within hours, the mainstream media and Hollywood elites rallied around Kimmel, framing him as a “victim” of political persecution. Meanwhile, outraged liberals began canceling Disney+ subscriptions by the thousands, pressuring ABC to reverse course. Facing massive financial fallout, the network quietly reinstated Kimmel, though major affiliates like Sinclair Broadcasting and Nexstar initially refused to air his show due to Carr’s comments — a stance they later walked back.
When Kimmel finally returned, he delivered a dramatic, defiant monologue, painting himself as a hero for “free speech” while hurling new insults at President Trump. Predictably, the liberal media showered him with praise — and the numbers show it worked.
According to a new Economist/YouGov poll, Kimmel now enjoys a net favorability of +3, with 44% of Americans viewing him positively and 41% negatively. President Trump, however, currently holds a net rating of -13, with 41% favorable and 54% unfavorable — a 16-point gap that mainstream outlets are now celebrating as a “humiliation” for the President.
Among independents, the divide is even starker: Kimmel stands at +5, while Trump trails with -30. Poll respondents also accused Trump of “trying to limit free speech” by a margin of 54% to 36% — despite years of censorship against conservatives by Big Tech, legacy media, and Hollywood insiders.
When asked if Kimmel’s on-air attacks justified his suspension, 55% of Americans said “no,” and only 30% said “yes” — mostly self-identified Republicans.
Still, while the Left celebrates, the real story is what’s happening behind the curtain: Kimmel’s ratings have skyrocketed, reportedly doubling since his return, as controversy drives clicks and cash. Once again, the liberal entertainment machine turns outrage into profit, while conservatives face constant censorship for daring to speak out.
As one commentator noted, “If a conservative host said half the things Kimmel did, he’d be off the air for good.”