By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
LOS ANGELES — Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel used humor and political commentary to punctuate his acceptance speech Sunday night after winning the Critics Choice Award for Best Talk Show Host, taking direct aim at President Donald Trump while thanking him—sarcastically—for the material.
Accepting the award for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the comedian credited the president for fueling his show’s success.
“I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we’d be going home empty-handed tonight,” Kimmel said. “So thank you, Mr. President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day.”
The line drew laughter from the audience and quickly circulated online, underscoring Kimmel’s continued role as one of Trump’s most visible critics in late-night television.
The moment comes just months after ABC reinstated Kimmel following an indefinite suspension tied to controversial remarks he made after the Sept. 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. ABC said at the time that the suspension was intended to avoid “further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” describing some of Kimmel’s comments as “ill-timed and insensitive.”
Kimmel returned to the air in September, a decision that prompted an angry response from Trump, who accused the network of dishonesty.
“I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “The White House was told by ABC that his show was cancelled!”
Despite the backlash, Kimmel appeared energized Sunday night, signaling a renewed focus on current events and political satire.
“It’s been a banner couple of weeks,” Kimmel said. “And we can’t wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them.”
As the 2026 political season heats up, Kimmel’s speech made clear that satire—and Trump—remain central to the late-night conversation, with comedy once again doubling as commentary in a deeply polarized media landscape.
