On the Nov. 6 episode of the ‘We Can Do Hard Things’ podcast, Molly McNearney, the wife of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, opened up about the emotional toll of her husband’s show suspension on their children. She revealed that their 11-year-old daughter broke down in tears when she learned that ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ had been temporarily suspended, while their 8-year-old son questioned if President Donald Trump was to blame. McNearney explained that the couple decided to be honest with their children about the suspension before they could find out on their own, emphasizing the emotional weight of the situation.
The incident unfolded in mid-September when Disney briefly halted Kimmel’s show following his remarks about the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk, which sparked significant backlash. Kimmel returned to the air the following week, and the incident reignited debates about free speech and political correctness in the media. McNearney described the moment when her son asked if Trump was responsible, highlighting the innocence of their children and the difficult choices faced by their family.
McNearney also shared her personal struggles with politics, noting that her views have shifted from ‘Republican versus Democrat’ to a deeper focus on ‘family values.’ She revealed that she has lost relationships with some Trump-voting family members due to her husband’s disagreements with the president. ‘It hurts me so much because of the personal relationship I now have,’ she said, ‘where my husband is out there fighting this man, and to me, them voting for Trump is them not voting for my husband and me and our family.’
She also described feeling a sense of constant conflict and anger, stating that she has struggled with ‘personalization’ in her political views. ‘I feel like I’m kind of in constant conflict, and I’m angry all the time, which isn’t healthy at all,’ she said. McNearney expressed a desire to ‘deprogram’ herself from these feelings, especially as the 2024 election approaches. She also revealed that she had reached out to some conservative family members in a last-ditch effort to convince them not to vote for Trump.
In response to McNearney’s comments, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the allegations, arguing that votes for Trump reflect support for his policies on taxes, security, and the economy. ‘Only someone suffering from TDS would be arrogant enough to claim that a vote for lower taxes, security and a strong economy is a vote against them personally,’ Jackson said. ‘Millions of hardworking Americans voted for President Trump. No one cares what out-of-touch Jimmy Kimmel and his wife think about it.’