Jimmy Kimmel made a fiery comeback to late-night television on Tuesday night, using his first show back to address recent controversy while standing firm against critics most notably former President Donald Trump.
The host had been briefly suspended by Disney-owned ABC following remarks he made about the death of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. Though Kimmel admitted his comments may have been “ill-timed or unclear,” he stopped short of a direct apology. Fighting back tears, he told viewers it was never his intention “to make light of the murder of a young man” or to blame any group for the killing.
Still, Kimmel made clear that the backlash would not silence him. “This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this,” he said, drawing applause from the studio audience.
Trump has seized on the controversy, calling Kimmel’s return a risk for ABC and hinting at potential legal action. The former president accused the network of effectively providing Democrats with “a major Illegal Campaign Contribution.”
Kimmel, however, turned the attack into fuel. He mocked Trump’s focus on his ratings and quipped that the uproar had actually boosted viewership. “He tried his best to cancel me,” Kimmel said. “Instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show. That backfired bigly.”
The comedian also enlisted actor Robert De Niro for a skit lampooning the FCC, suggesting regulators were using “mob tactics” to curb free speech.
Critics and supporters alike agree that Kimmel’s monologue set the tone for a new chapter in his increasingly combative relationship with Trump. TV analyst Jed Rosenzweig called it “moving, fearless, and funny,” while some conservative commentators dismissed it as self-pitying.
Whether the clash boosts Kimmel’s ratings long term remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the late-night host isn’t backing down.
