Jimmy Kimmel made a powerful return to television on Tuesday, launching a sharp attack on US President Donald Trump. The late-night host addressed the recent suspension of his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, after comments he made regarding the death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel Returns with Sharp Criticism of Trump
During his 17-minute show, Kimmel said that Trump “tried his best to cancel me,” but his efforts “backfired.” He urged viewers to stand up to politicians and not let them dictate what Americans should see or hear. The comedian emphasized the importance of free speech, saying, “Let’s stop letting these politicians tell us what they want, and tell them what we want.”
The suspension of Kimmel’s show sparked strong reactions. Critics argued that the action was politically motivated because Kimmel has often been critical of the US President. Trump, meanwhile, celebrated the suspension as “great news for America,” calling Kimmel a “ZERO talent.”
Kimmel’s Remarks on Trump and the Epstein Files
Kimmel also focused on the alleged Epstein files, which reportedly contain the names of prominent individuals connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He suggested that Trump might use the files to distract from the controversy surrounding his show. “He might have to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now,” Kimmel said, referencing reports that Trump’s name appears in these documents.
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The comedian accused the President of targeting not only him but the hundreds of people working behind the scenes at ABC. “The President of the U.S. made it very clear that he wants to see me and hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs,” Kimmel said. He criticized Trump for celebrating Americans losing their jobs simply because of a joke, calling it “un-American.”
Kimmel also warned fellow late-night hosts. He singled out Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show and suggested that Trump may try to target him next. Kimmel asked viewers to speak out if such attempts occur, noting that comedians and their teams often do not earn millions but work hard to entertain audiences.
Criticism of FCC and Apology to Viewers
Kimmel’s criticism extended beyond the President. He called out Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr for threatening ABC affiliates that aired his show. He contrasted Carr’s past support for free speech with his current actions, highlighting a tweet from 2022 in which Carr praised political satire as a critical part of democracy.
Amid his remarks, Kimmel grew emotional, breaking into tears while addressing the controversy over his comments about Kirk. He said he never intended to make light of the young man’s murder. “I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind, but I do want to make something clear… it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said. He also clarified that he did not mean to blame any specific group for the tragedy.
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Kimmel thanked ABC for allowing him to return to the air and for giving him creative freedom over the past 23 years. He described the discussions with the network as open and respectful, even if he disagreed with their initial decision to suspend the show.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump expressed disbelief that ABC had reinstated Kimmel. On his social media platform Truth Social, he said, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled!” Trump also hinted that the government might “test ABC out on this” but did not provide details.
Kimmel’s return marks a significant moment in late-night television, as the host directly challenged a sitting President while addressing both censorship concerns and sensitive topics like the Epstein files.
