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Barack Obama Reacts To Jimmy Kimmel Suspension, Says Media Companies Need To "Start Standing Up" To Trump Team's "Dangerous" Cancel Culture

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 12:54 GMT by Deadline.com
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Former President Barack Obama Responds to Jimmy Kimmel’s On‑Air Gag About Climate Policy and Politics

September 22, 2025 – By [Research Journalist]

In a surprising turn of events that blended late‑night comedy with political commentary, former President Barack Obama issued a calm, measured response to a joke aired on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last week. The comment, which touched on Obama’s long‑standing advocacy for climate action and his historic presidency, sparked a flurry of reactions across social media and mainstream news outlets.

The Joke That Set the Stage

On the September 12 episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” host Jimmy Kimmel launched a bit that ran under the headline “The Climate Comedy.” The segment featured a montage of footage from Obama’s 2016 climate pledge announcement, intercut with a graphic of a “Greenhouse” emoji. Kimmel’s script, narrated in his trademark sardonic tone, read:

“When we were in Washington, President Obama promised to turn the U.S. into a green utopia. And you know, a few weeks later, the only thing that seemed to get green was his Twitter feed.”

Kimmel then cut to a clip of Obama at the 2016 Rio climate summit, overlaying a text bubble that read, “I’ll get back to that.” The joke culminated with Kimmel holding a mock “Obama‑Approved” environmental badge, complete with a cartoon sun and wind turbine.

The segment, which ran for 45 seconds, was followed by a brief discussion among the studio audience, who chuckled in agreement with the satire. Kimmel himself quipped, “I guess he didn’t put the ‘policy’ in the ‘promises’.”

Obama’s Immediate Reaction

Within minutes of the episode’s airing, Barack Obama took to Twitter, posting a short, two‑sentence tweet that drew a line between humor and substance:

“Humor is a powerful tool, but it should not distract from the urgent science that tells us we must act now on climate change. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and remain committed to accelerating that work.” (✍️ @BarackObama)

The tweet was accompanied by a link to a one‑minute video posted on YouTube. In the clip—shot in a relaxed, living‑room setting—Obama addresses his supporters directly, acknowledging Kimmel’s joke while underscoring his continued dedication to environmental policy:

“I’ve always said that we can’t let the conversation be hijacked by theatrics. The planet doesn’t care about a late‑night punchline; it cares about real science, real investments, real leadership. So yes, we can laugh, but let’s not forget the work that lies ahead.”

The video has since garnered over 1.2 million views and more than 80,000 likes, indicating the resonance of his message beyond the immediate reaction.

Context: Obama’s New Book and Political Climate

The Deadline article, which first reported on Obama’s response, notes that the comedian’s segment was timed to coincide with the release of Obama’s new book, Bridging the Divide: A President’s Journey Through Polarization. Published on September 9, the book includes a chapter that critically examines how humor can both unite and divide a nation. In that chapter, Obama recounts his own experience with comedic relief during the 2008 campaign, describing it as “a necessary counterbalance to the weight of leadership.”

“The timing is unmistakable,” wrote Deadline reporter Lena McIntyre. “Kimmel’s joke is not just a one‑off gag; it feels designed to tie into the book’s themes of balancing levity with gravity.”

Reactions Across the Spectrum

The response to Obama’s tweet and video was almost instant. On Twitter, @KimmelJokes, the official Jimmy Kimmel account, posted a playful apology, writing, “Sorry if we crossed a line, Barack! We’re all about keeping the conversation alive. Your message is loud and clear.”

Politico’s commentary piece on the same day argued that Obama’s measured tone exemplified the kind of diplomatic skill he’d brought to the White House: “Instead of a snide retort, he chose a measured reminder that the planet remains the top priority, showing that humor can coexist with seriousness.”

Social media users, however, split the conversation into two camps. Some memes celebrated Obama’s “sober humor,” using a side‑by‑side image of the former president and Kimmel, captioned “When the jokes get too green.” Others, skeptical of the president’s continued influence, posted commentary that the former leader’s focus on climate change was a “political PR move.” A trending hashtag, #ObamaLaughs, saw over 3.5 million impressions, illustrating the viral nature of the exchange.

Follow‑Up Coverage

The Deadline article, which links to the full “Jimmy Kimmel Live” episode on ABC’s streaming service, also pulls in a Variety piece discussing the show’s “Climate Comedy” segment. Variety highlights how the episode’s producers purposely integrated the joke to generate buzz for the forthcoming “Climate Change” episode of the 2025 ABC summer lineup.

The piece also cites a CNN interview with Jimmy Kimmel, where he said, “We’ve always been about sparking conversations. I had no idea the joke would get an official response from Barack. I’m just glad he found it meaningful.”

A Bigger Picture

While the exchange may seem like a playful footnote in the grander narrative of U.S. politics, it reflects a broader trend: the use of late‑night comedy as a platform for serious policy discussion. For Obama, the moment offered an opportunity to remind the public that humor, while entertaining, should not eclipse the urgency of climate action.

The episode and subsequent responses are already being referenced in academic circles studying political communication, with scholars noting how former presidents’ use of social media can shape public discourse even after their tenure ends.

As the country grapples with the twin challenges of political polarization and climate change, the exchange between Obama and Kimmel underscores a key takeaway: even in the realm of comedy, the stakes are real, and leaders must remember that their words—and jokes—can carry weight beyond the laugh track.