A demonstrator protests the suspension of the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show on Sept. 18 outside the El Capitan Entertainment Centre in Hollywood, where the show is recorded.

Whatever your opinion of late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel may be, the threat by President Donald J. Trump’s administration to go after him and his employers — and to use their power to silence other critics as well — should alarm anyone who believes in the First Amendment.

The constitutional guarantee of free speech didn’t stop Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr from warning of official action against Mr. Kimmel, ABC, its affiliate stations and the network’s parent, Walt Disney Co., after the comedian made some comments last week regarding Charlie Kirk, the right-wing influencer shot and killed Sept. 10 while speaking at a campus in Utah.

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Following Mr. Carr’s threats, Mr. Kimmel was taken off the air. ABC’s announcement on Monday that his show would return Tuesday after a week of dead air was a relief, but in no way excuses the federal government’s actions.

In the wake of Mr. Kimmel’s suspension, Mr. Carr warned on Fox News that the comedian would not be “the last shoe to drop.” And on Air Force One, Mr. Trump signaled it was open season on broadcasters who aired criticism of........

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