Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) became the most prominent ally of President Donald Trump to criticize the Federal Communications Commission chair's threat to act against ABC's parent company over remarks about Charlie Kirk by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

"I think it is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying, 'We're going to decide what speech we like and what we don't, and we're going to threaten to take you out there if we don't like what you're saying,'" Cruz said Friday on his podcast, "Verdict with Ted Cruz."

"It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel," Cruz later added. "But when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it."

Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, was shot to death last week during an event at a college in Orem, Utah.

Kimmel was indefinitely suspended this week by ABC after right-wing blowback to comments Kimmel made on his show Monday about conservatives' response to Kirk's death. Hours before the suspension was announced, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr suggested the government could act against ABC affiliates who broadcast Kimmel's show.

"They have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest," Carr said on right-wing activist Benny Johnson's podcast. "But frankly, when you see stuff like this, I mean we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or, you know, there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead."

"No, no, no, no," Cruz said on his show after playing Carr's comments. "What he said there is dangerous as hell." He added: "That's right out of 'Goodfellas.' That's right out of a mafioso coming into a bar. 'God, nice bar you have here. It'd be a shame if something happened to it.'"

Representatives for the FCC didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Later on Friday, Trump told reporters he disagreed with Cruz. When asked if Carr had the right to take away ABC's broadcasting license, Trump called Carr "a patriot" and "a courageous person."

"I think Brendan Carr doesn't like to see the airwaves be used illegally and incorrectly and purposely horribly," Trump said.

Cruz suggested that Kimmel had lied in his remarks, but he said that if Kimmel had defamed the Kirk family or Trump, as some on the right have suggested, they can file a defamation lawsuit. ABC News settled a defamation suit brought by Trump late last year for $15 million.

Two news outlets seen as conservative-leaning, the Wall Street Journal and the Free Press, published editorials criticizing the FCC involvement that led to Kimmel's suspension.

"Regulatory power in the hands of a willful President can too easily become a weapon against political opponents, including the media," the Wall Street Journal's editorial said.

"None of this justifies the right's resort to regulatory censorship. As victims of cancel culture for so long, conservatives more than anyone should oppose it. They will surely be the targets again when the left returns to power," the Wall Street Journal added, echoing Cruz's concern.

Former congresswoman Liz Cheney, who was a Republican leader before breaking with her party to become a staunch Trump critic, took to social media to speak directly to Carr.

"Hey Brendan 'we can do this the easy way or the hard way' Carr: Last year in National Rifle Association v. Vullo, the Supreme Court unanimously reaffirmed this fundamental principle of our constitutional republic: 'Government officials cannot attempt to coerce private parties in order to punish or suppress views that the government disfavors.' This doesn't just constrain Democrats. It applies to all officeholders, including you," Cheney wrote on X. "You took an oath to the Constitution not to Donald Trump."

Republican Ted Cruz says FCC chair's threats about Kimmel are 'dangerous'