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When announcing that it would halt Jimmy Kimmel’s broadcast, TV station operator Nexstar Communications Group called the entertainer’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death as “offensive and insensitive” during a pivotal time in national political debate.

Advocates of Donald Trump applauded the decision, with the White House deputy chief of staff referring to it as an instance of “culture of consequences”.

But what specifically did Jimmy Kimmel claim that provoked the president’s base?

During his Monday night commentary, Kimmel hinted that Kirk’s suspected killer, Tyler Robinson, could have been a Trump supporter.

“The Maga Gang [is] 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,” Kimmel stated.

That particular remark is believed to have angered Republican loyalists and administration members most of all.

Speaking earlier on Wednesday, the Trump-appointed head of the US media regulator implied it seemed a “coordinated attempt to lie to the American people.”

Brendan Carr went on to call Kimmel’s remarks as an effort to “support a theory that the assailant was possibly influenced by right-wing beliefs.”

Carr also threatened that if measures were not enforced against Kimmel, there would be “further action for the FCC ahead.”

“It’s long past the time that networks declare, ‘We’re not gonna run Kimmel anymore due to the possibility of fines or having our broadcast rights pulled from the FCC,’” Carr said.

Senator Ed Markey condemned the action as “active censorship”.

“The FCC chair threatens ABC and Disney over Kimmel’s comments. Not long after, he’s off air. It’s alarming and against free speech. The signal to every media organization is clear: Adopt the MAGA line or the Federal Censorship Commission will penalize you,” Markey stated.

Jimmy Kimmel further mentioned the reaction to Kirk’s death on his next episode, noting that “many in Maga-land are working very hard to benefit from the killing of Charlie Kirk”.

Mentioning vice-president JD Vance’s comment while guest-hosting Kirk’s podcast, Kimmel suggested that “the administration and its supporters are doing their best to fan the flames, so they can perhaps attack people on the liberal wing.”

Sources suggest that Kimmel was planning to address the criticism on the next show and explain how his remarks had been misrepresented. He was reportedly not expecting to say sorry for them.