 "This image released by Disney shows Jimmy Kimmel hosting his late night show \"Jimmy Kimmel Live!\" in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Image/Disney via AP")
Jimmy Kimmel made an emotional comeback on Tuesday night after ABC revoked the suspension of his talk show following a massive backlash from his supporters in Hollywood and others who blamed the Trump administration for stifling freedom of speech.
“This show is not important. What’s important is that we live in a country that allows us to have a show like this,” Kimmel said as he asserted that President Donald Trump’s move to block his show was “anti-American”. The late-night talk show was cancelled after host Jimmy Kimmel made comments about Charlie Kirk.
The Emmy-winning host said, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual.”
In his monologue, Kimmel accused Maga of painting Robinson as “anything other than one of them”. “The Maga Gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” he said in the Monday broadcast.
The late-night host has been frequently in the crosshairs of Trump and his administration. In the Monday show, he also criticised the flags being flown at half-staff in honour of Kirk, and mocked Trump’s reaction to the shooting.
Kimmel defends freedom of speech
The host recalled spending time with comedians from countries where people “get thrown in prison for making fun of those in power, and worse.”
“They know how lucky we are here. Our freedom to speak is what they admire most about this country, and that’s something I’m embarrassed to say I took for granted until they pulled my friend Stephen off the air,” a reference to CBS host Stephen Colbert.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsKimmel predicted that ABC and its parent company, Disney, would face increased scrutiny from the Trump administration for bringing back his show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” just days after Trump falsely claimed Kimmel had been “fired.”
Trump against reinstatement
Hours before the show’s reappearance, Trump took to social media to complain – and threaten ABC.
“Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE?” he wrote.
“I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative.”
It was not immediately clear what legal grounds Trump might think he has.