Clinton warns US could be losing freedom of speech amid Kimmel suspension fallout

Former President Bill Clinton warned at the Clinton Global Initiative's 20th anniversary gathering in New York on Thursday that the United States risks losing its freedom of speech as government actions appear to curb expression across media and journalism. He did not name President Trump or Jimmy Kimmel, but his remarks came amid a high-profile case involving Kimmel's brief suspension last week after comments about the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk.

Clinton, speaking to CGI attendees, said, 'I'm worried that we're at risk of losing our freedom of speech, and that the weight of the government is being used to restrict expression from journalism to comedy.' He noted that the case illustrated how restrictions can reach from newsrooms to late-night television, and he pointed to the temporary removal of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' after Kimmel's comments about the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk, which drew condemnation from broadcasters and a veiled warning from the Federal Communications Commission. Kimmel’s suspension was lifted on Sept. 23, but Sinclair Broadcasting Group and Nexstar Media Group said they would continue to preempt the show across dozens of ABC affiliates while negotiations with Disney continued.

Clinton argued that a robust press should challenge those in power, not shield them from scrutiny. 'But the press is supposed to be tough on us,' he said. 'Facing hard questions and being forced to think them through and answer them makes our ideas stronger and our politics better. And if the coverage is unfair and inaccurate, we can stand up and do that and point it out and express our disagreements without trying to put people who are doing their jobs under the Constitution out of business. That’s wrong.' He added, 'You don’t build strong societies by doing this. It’s an illusion. It causes societies to fail when their institutions are all discredited.'

Clinton also condemned political violence against Kirk and others, including former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, and called for more peaceful dissent. ' vigorous debate and disagreements and dissent are necessary, healthy in a functioning democracy,' he said, but violence, intimidation, and repression have no place. 'We got to be clearly all on the same side for the first and against the latter. And we start by practicing seeing each other as people again both in person and online.'

Outside the studios where 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' is produced, protesters gathered to demonstrate against the suspension, contending that it infringed on free speech and intensified the public debate over media gatekeeping during politically charged moments.

Democratic senators have opened probes into Nexstar and Sinclair over the Kimmel matter, warning that the decision to bench a show could run afoul of federal law if it was intended to influence coverage or content. The companies have said the moves were about honoring contractual and regulatory obligations amid ongoing negotiations with Disney.

Fox News Digital reached out to Clinton’s staff for comment but did not immediately receive a response.