A new poll shows that late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is clobbering President Donald Trump in net favorability after the bombshell showdown that resulted in a suspension and triumphant return for Kimmel.
The media world was shaken last month by the news that ABC had suspended Kimmel’s show “indefinitely,” just hours after he was targeted by Brendan Carr, President Trump’s hand-picked FCC commissioner.
The move drew fierce backlash from all quarters, even as President Trump and his allies openly celebrated the suspension — and looked for more. Fellow late-night hosts and other media figures rallied around Kimmel, and reports of mass cancellations of Disney+ subscriptions circulated.
Kimmel was reinstated after a wave of Disney+ cancellations, but major affiliate owners Sinclair Broadcasting and Nextstar said they would not air the show, citing comments by Carr. Within days, both relented.
The host did indeed return, and after a marathon monologue that was at times defiant, triumphant, and heartfelt he went right back to torching Trump. The president, for his part, continued to rail against Kimmel.
When the dust setttled, Kimmel’s net approval far outstripped Trump’s. In the latest Economist/YouGov poll, respondents were asked “Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of Jimmy Kimmel?”
Fourty-four percent responded “yes” versus 41 percent “no” with another 15 percent undecided, for a net favorability of plus-three.
Respondents were also asked “Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of Donald Trump?”
The president fared much worse than Kimmel. Only 41 percent held favorable views of Trump versus 54 percent unfavorable and 5 percent undecided, for a net favorability rating of minus-13. That’s a whopping 16-point difference in net favorability.
The divide is even greater when you exclude partisanship — among independents, Kimmel has a plus five net favorability, while Trump is at negative 30 among independents.
Respondents to the poll overwhelmingly believe Trump “is trying to limit free speech” by a 54-36 percent margin.
Asked “Did Jimmy Kimmel say things that would justify having his show cancelled?”, 55 percent responded “no” versus 30 percent who said “yes” — mostly Republicans.
Kimmel has also turned the controversy into a ratings winning streak, more than doubling his ratings after his return
The post NEW POLL: Jimmy Kimmel Clobbers Trump By 16 Points In Net Approval first appeared on Mediaite.
