In the wake of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, social media uncovered an old clip of Vice President JD Vance promising to protect opposing views.
The clip was taken from the Munich Security Conference in February 2025, shortly after President Donald Trump’s second term in office began. At the conference, Vance accused the previous administration of encouraging “private companies to silence people” and vowed the Trump administration would not do the same:
Our own government encouraged private companies to silence people who dared to utter what turned out to be an obvious truth. So I come here today not just with an observation, but with an offer. And just as the Biden administration seemed desperate to silence people for speaking their minds, so the Trump administration will do precisely the opposite; and I hope that we can work together on that.
In Washington, there is a new sheriff in town; and under Donald Trump’s leadership, we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the public square, agree or disagree.
On Wednesday, ABC announced it had suspended Kimmel over his comments on the killing of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel accused the MAGA movement of “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
The suspension came after the FCC’s chairman threatened ABC over Kimmel’s comments.
Many were quick to point out that the incident appeared to go against Vance’s words in February.
