"Not that Trump's humorless streak is new; many of his allies think he only decided to seek the highest office in the land after then-President Obama roasted him at the 2011 White House Correspondent's dinner. "I think that is the night he resolves to run for president," Roger Stone said later. Guessing at his thinking during that dinner, Omarosa Manigault added, "It is the ultimate revenge to become the most powerful man in the universe.""
"Trump's FCC Chairman Brendan Carr didn't bother hiding the threat: "What people don't understand is that the broadcasters ... have a license granted by us at the FCC," he said. "Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, on Kimmel, or there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead." And we all know how much this administration hates actual work!"
Trump has been sensitive to ridicule, and allies suggest the 2011 Obama roast prompted his presidential ambitions. Associates described his decision to run as an act of revenge and said revenge remains a driving motive in his second term. ABC indefinitely pulled Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show after Kimmel made mild comments about Charlie Kirk. FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly warned broadcasters that licenses are conditional and hinted at regulatory consequences if conduct does not change. The post-acquittal political environment diminished conventional legal restraints and raised questions about whether the administration could use regulatory power to punish critics. Stephen Colbert's earlier cancellation had plausible alternative explanations, but Kimmel's removal appeared clearly linked to political pressure.
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