The Daily Beast Podcast Real Reason ABC Bowed to Trump on Kimmel: Wolff
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Sep 19, 2025 
In this engaging conversation, journalist Michael Wolff, renowned for his insights into Donald Trump's world, delves into Trump's latest attack on the media, focusing on the fallout from his feud with Jimmy Kimmel and Disney's surprising response. Wolff shares a surreal experience of sharing ice cream with Trump while unpacking the political implications of declining approval ratings and the ongoing Epstein scandal. The discussion also highlights the evolving dynamics within MAGA and the tension between free speech and Trump’s controversial tactics.
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From Friendly Celebrity To Defensive Politician
- Wolff argues Trump's relationship with media figures shifted from jocular to deeply adversarial over time.
- That shift produced a defensive Trump who sees the media as an enemy rather than comrades in show business.
Green Room Ice Cream Moment
- Michael Wolff recounts his first political interview with Donald Trump in Jimmy Kimmel's green room in spring 2016.
- They repaired Trump's Beverly Hills house and ate pint after pint of Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream while talking late into the night.
How Regulatory Pressure Silences Shows
- Wolff highlights how regulatory and affiliate pressure prompted ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel.
- He frames the suspension as fear-driven capitulation to the Trump administration's leverage over media deals.