Deepfake Jimmy Kimmels and Jon Stewarts are everywhere : NPR
NPR Topics: Politics — 2026-08-30 06:00:00 — www.npr.org
President Trump has repeatedly called for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired, intensifying the already contentious relationship between the late-night host and the Trump administration. This ongoing feud has taken on new dimensions as fake videos featuring Kimmel and other talk show hosts, created with generative AI, continue to spread across social media platforms.
### Trump’s Attacks and the Rise of Deepfakes
The proliferation of AI-generated videos has made it easier than ever for false or misleading content to circulate online. In the case of Jimmy Kimmel, these deepfakes often show him commenting on President Trump’s actions, such as allegedly falling asleep in a meeting or attacking political opponents like Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The authenticity of these videos is frequently questioned, but their reach and impact are significant, with some garnering hundreds of thousands of views and convincing viewers that the content is real.
### Free Speech and Political Pressure
The situation is further complicated by Trump’s public calls for Kimmel’s dismissal. According to Jed Rosenzweig, editor of LateNighter.com, the fake videos—many of which criticize or mock Trump—could embolden the administration’s efforts to pressure ABC and the Federal Communications Commission in ongoing legal battles over free speech rights. “ABC are being scrutinized on a nightly basis for what Jimmy Kimmel is saying,” Rosenzweig noted, highlighting the heightened stakes for both the network and the host.
### Conclusion
President Trump’s repeated demands for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired underscore the high-profile clash between political power and media commentary. As deepfake technology continues to evolve, the risk of misinformation and the potential for political retaliation grow, raising urgent questions about free speech, media responsibility, and the ability of audiences to discern fact from fiction in the digital age.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/08/30/nx-s1-5943190/jimmy-kimmel-deepfake-jon-stewart-abc-ai