Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television after a turbulent week that saw him briefly suspended. His first show back was packed with emotion, satire, and a firm refusal to be silenced.
The comedian acknowledged the controversy surrounding his earlier remarks about Charlie Kirk’s passing.
“It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel told viewers, adding that He understood why some found his comments “ill-timed or unclear.”
But instead of dwelling on regret, he pivoted toward the larger debate.
“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 declared, earning loud cheers from the studio audience.
Kimmel used the spotlight to lash out at attempts to stifle free expression.
“A government threat to silence a comedian the president doesn’t like is anti-American,” he said, repeating the phrase with emphasis. “It’s anti-American!”
The host then turned to Donald Trump, who had mocked his ratings during the uproar. Kimmel countered with sharp humor, saying,
“He tried his best to cancel me. Instead he forced millions of people to watch the show. That backfired bigly.”
The night also featured a satirical sketch with Robert De Niro, playing a fictional FCC chairman. The bit underscored Kimmel’s criticism that regulators were being used as tools of political pressure.
Trump, meanwhile, has signaled he isn’t finished with the fight. In a social media post, he branded Kimmel “A Democrat mouthpiece” and claimed his return was “A major Illegal Campaign Contribution.”
He warned, “I think we’re going to test ABC out on this.”
Kimmel admitted he was unhappy with Disney’s decision to suspend him, though he thanked the network for restoring the show. He cautioned that the move “unfortunately and I think unjustly, puts them at risk.”
The main hook of the night was clear: Kimmel showed no signs of backing down. “He’s not stopping,” he said of Trump, before adding, “We have to speak out against it.”
By the end of the broadcast, it was evident that the clash had only strengthened his resolve. Kimmel left viewers with a defiant reminder that he will keep speaking out, no matter the threats from the president or the pressures on his network.
