Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, less than a week after ABC suspended the show over his comments on the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. ABC had announced the suspension last Wednesday but reversed its decision on Monday, saying it held “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel before approving the program’s comeback.
Donald Trump Slams ABC and Jimmy Kimmel
US President Donald Trump sharply criticized ABC for reinstating Kimmel, posting a lengthy statement on Truth Social.
“I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there,” Trump wrote.
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He accused the comedian of pushing “99% positive Democrat garbage” and called him “not funny,” adding, “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 is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution.”
This fucking idiot just admitted the government was involved with the firing of Jimmy Kimmel.
This man is a supreme dumbass. pic.twitter.com/GAtuuxAtoP
— Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) September 24, 2025
Donald Trump Calls ABC Team A Bunch of Losers
Trump also referenced a previous defamation case that ABC settled by donating $15 million to his presidential library and suggested a similar move could follow.
“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. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings,” he wrote.
Jimmy Kimmel Addresses Controversy on Air
Kimmel opened his first show back with a direct response to the uproar over his earlier monologue, clarifying that he never intended to make light of Kirk’s killing.
“I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind, but I do want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human, and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said in an emotional statement, according to the Associated Press.
“I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” he continued. “Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make.”
Also Read: Jimmy Kimmel Is Back On Air After Six-Day ABC Suspension, Disney Confirms
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
