Jimmy Kimmel has made his return to television, taking a direct jab at Donald Trump after the former president celebrated his temporary suspension.
On Tuesday night (September 23), Kimmel made his comeback, using the opportunity to target Trump with a series of comedic jabs. The reason for Kimmel’s brief suspension last week was his discussion on Charlie Kirk and the reaction from conservatives to his assassination.
The segment included clips of Trump, who seemed to avoid addressing the controversial conservative commentator, preferring to discuss his renovation plans instead.
The next day, Kimmel’s show was put on hold, a move that was celebrated by some, including Trump, while others criticized it as an attack on free speech.
In his first monologue upon returning, Kimmel wasted no time in poking fun at Trump.
He remarked about Trump: “You almost have to feel sorry for him, he tried his best to cancel me and instead he forced millions of people to watch the show.”
“That backfired bigly, he might need to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now.”
Kimmel continued: “The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.”
“One thing I did learn from Lenny Bruce and George Carlin and Howard Stern, is that a government threat to silence a comedian the President doesn’t like is anti-American.”
Kimmel also addressed those who criticized him for his perceived insensitivity when discussing Kirk.
With emotion, he clarified: “I want to make something clear because it is important to me as a human and that is that it was never my intention to make light of a murder of a young man.”
“I don’t think there is anything funny about it, I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed sending love to his family and asking for compassion and I meant it and I still do.”
Meanwhile, Trump had his own response to Kimmel and ABC, expressing his bewilderment about the show’s return.
On Truth Social, he wrote on Tuesday night: “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.”
“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.”
Trump’s comments seemingly referred to the settlement he reached with ABC the previous year in a defamation lawsuit he filed against the network.