Jimmy Kimmel made a striking comeback to the late-night stage for his second night back, taking aim at President Donald Trump and the ongoing criticism directed at him and his network, ABC. Describing Trump as an “80s-movie-style bully,” Kimmel launched into a comedic monologue that dissected Trump’s recent social media post, where the president accused the comedian of being “yet another arm” of the Democratic Party. Trump also threatened to “test ABC” for broadcasting what he deemed to be a “major Illegal Campaign Contribution.” Kimmel humorously remarked, “Only Donald Trump would try to prove he wasn’t threatening ABC by threatening ABC.”
In his opening remarks, Kimmel defended his routine of heckling the president, reiterating sentiments he expressed in his previous night’s monologue. He called on the public to stand up against Trump’s threats and “anti-American” attacks on free speech. Kimmel addressed those who believe he is too harsh on Trump, stating, “I talk about Trump more than anything because he’s a bully. I don’t like bullies – I played the clarinet in high school.” With a playful jab, Kimmel likened supporting Trump to “rooting for Biff from Back to the Future,” the notorious antagonist from the classic film, adding, “I don’t know about you – I’m with Marty McFly.”
Wednesday’s show marked the second appearance since “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was pulled from the air for nearly a week due to controversy surrounding Kimmel's comments about activist Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer. Following conservative backlash, Disney’s ABC announced the suspension “indefinitely.” Kimmel had claimed that the “MAGA gang” was “desperately trying” to portray the suspect as “anything other than one of them.” These comments triggered a wave of criticism from right-wing media outlets and prompted FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to label Kimmel’s remarks as “the sickest conduct possible,” suggesting possible repercussions for ABC affiliates.
Upon his return on Tuesday, Kimmel delivered a heartfelt and powerful message advocating for free speech while simultaneously mocking Trump and those who seek to censor his show. “This show is not important,” Kimmel asserted. “What’s important is that we live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.” He also clarified that it was never his intention to make light of the tragic murder of a young man, which had sparked the controversy. Remarkably, ABC reported that Kimmel’s return episode garnered record-breaking ratings, with tens of millions tuning in to watch his monologue across various platforms, including YouTube and social media.
Despite the successful return, Kimmel acknowledged that his show remained unavailable on several ABC affiliates due to ongoing pre-emptions by major TV station groups such as Sinclair and Nexstar. “We are still not on the air on a number of ABC affiliates, including Seattle, Portland, Washington, DC, Nashville, New Orleans, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, and about 30 more,” he pointed out. Kimmel’s return did not go without criticism, as Vice President JD Vance remarked that Kimmel had failed to apologize for his comments about Kirk, saying, “On the other hand, he didn’t actually say sorry to Charlie Kirk or his family.”
