Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to his show with a vengeance, making it immediately clear why he talks about President Donald Trump “more than anything.” In the second episode airing since his temporary suspension, Kimmel wasted no time mocking the President, whom he labeled a “bully,” explaining to viewers that he can’t stand bullies and that’s why Trump dominates his segments.
The tension between Kimmel and Trump had been brewing ever since the President reportedly celebrated news of Kimmel’s brief suspension, calling it “great news for America.” On his return to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host fired back directly at Trump, addressing both the President’s surprise that ABC reinstated Kimmel and his claims that Kimmel’s suspension was due to poor ratings.
“You can’t believe they gave me my job back? I can’t believe we gave you your job back! We’re even,” Kimmel quipped, referencing Trump’s own reelection victory as a tongue-in-cheek rebuttal. Turning to the ratings accusations, Kimmel mocked the logic: “Has anyone ever been fired for bad ratings on a Wednesday?” He then displayed the President’s poor polling numbers, adding, “He does know bad ratings. He has some of the worst ratings any president has ever had.”
Kimmel also denied claims that ABC had informed the White House his show was canceled. Reflecting on his return, he commented, “You almost have to feel sorry for him. He tried. Did his best to cancel me. Instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show. That backfired bigly.” His words highlighted both the absurdity of the situation and the unintended consequences of Trump’s attempt to silence him.
The temporary suspension itself stemmed from a decision by ABC, following pressure from Nexstar Media Group, the largest owner of television stations in the U.S., which said it would no longer air Kimmel’s show. Nexstar, with over 200 owned or partner stations across 116 markets, reaches more than 220 million people, making its influence enormous.
Adding fuel to the controversy, hours before ABC made the suspension public, Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), condemned Kimmel’s remarks as “truly sick.” Carr went on to suggest that the FCC could hold ABC, Disney, and Kimmel accountable, accusing the comic of allegedly misleading the public into believing a politically charged narrative regarding a criminal act.
Through it all, Kimmel remained unflinching, using humor and sharp commentary to confront the President’s actions, ridicule false claims, and underline the wider implications of media censorship and political overreach. His return not only marked a personal victory but also sparked a national conversation about freedom of expression, ratings, and the power struggle between media and politics.
