Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night television after a nearly weeklong suspension has sparked a firestorm of cultural debate, record-breaking ratings, and a renewed war of words with former President Donald Trump. The events surrounding Kimmel’s comeback have exposed the raw nerves at the intersection of comedy, politics, and free speech in America, with millions tuning in to witness the drama unfold both on-air and online.
On September 24, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live! aired its first episode since ABC and its parent company Disney suspended the show over comments Kimmel made about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. According to BBC, the episode drew a staggering 6.26 million viewers—about triple the show’s usual audience—despite roughly a quarter of ABC affiliates, including those owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar, refusing to air the program. Disney reported that Kimmel’s 28-minute monologue, in which he addressed the controversy and his suspension, was watched by an additional 26 million people on social media platforms.
“A lot of people watched our show last night. I got so many texts from so many people. It made me realize how many of my friends are never watching the show at any other time,” Kimmel joked in his opening monologue, as reported by Variety. The host, clearly moved by the outpouring of attention, also acknowledged the emotional weight of his return. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said, referencing his remarks about Kirk’s death. “I don’t think there’s 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. Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions. It was a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but to some, that felt ill-timed or unclear or maybe both, and for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset.”
The suspension itself followed a warning from Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who threatened action against ABC and Disney over Kimmel’s remarks. The move triggered a nationwide debate over free speech and the role of political pressure on media organizations. As Newsweek noted, the nearly weeklong suspension was widely criticized, with many seeing it as an attack on free expression.
Yet, the controversy did little to dampen Kimmel’s comedic instincts. On his return, Kimmel wasted no time turning his attention to Donald Trump, who had taken to Truth Social to lambast ABC’s decision. “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back,” Trump wrote, as quoted by Deadline. Kimmel, never one to shy away from a jab, fired back: “You can’t believe they gave me my job back? I can’t believe we gave you your job back. We’re even!” The audience erupted in applause, but Kimmel’s mockery didn’t stop there. He pointed out the irony in Trump’s threats to sue ABC, referencing the former president’s previous $16 million defamation settlement against the network.
“Only Donald Trump would try to prove he wasn’t threatening ABC by threatening ABC. And you almost have to feel sorry for the people who work for him, who try to clean up the messes. They’ve been bending over backwards,” Kimmel quipped, according to Deadline. He continued to lampoon Trump’s fixation on ratings, saying, “Has anyone ever been fired for bad ratings on a Wednesday? He does know bad ratings. He has some of the worst ratings any president has ever had. So, on behalf of all of us, welcome to the ‘Crappy Ratings Club’, Mr. President.”
Trump’s social media posts were laced with accusations that Kimmel’s show was “99% positive Democrat garbage” and that the host’s reinstatement amounted to an illegal campaign contribution to the Democratic National Committee. “Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99 percent positive Democrat GARBAGE,” Trump wrote. Kimmel, in turn, highlighted Trump’s own unfavorable approval ratings—flashing poll numbers of 55 to 56 percent unfavorable—during his response, as reported by Newsweek.
Kimmel took a moment to explain why Trump is such a frequent target in his monologues. “There are still a lot of people who think I should be pulled off the air for making fun of Donald Trump. So I want to explain—I talk about Trump more than anything because he’s a bully. I don’t like bullies,” he said. Drawing on his own experiences, Kimmel added, “I played the clarinet in high school, okay? I just don’t like it. Donald Trump is an old-fashioned ‘80s movie-style bully, taking your lunch and money.” He even likened Trump to Biff from Back to the Future, quipping, “Literally, Donald Trump was the model for Biff in Back to the Future, and this is who people are cheering for. I don’t know about you, I’m with Marty McFly.”
The public’s reaction to Kimmel’s reinstatement was sharply divided. While celebrity supporters like Ben Stiller praised his “brilliant monologue,” others, such as Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet, Kirk’s former producer, criticized Kimmel’s apology as insufficient. “Not good enough,” Kolvet wrote on X, arguing that Kimmel should have offered a full apology for suggesting the suspected killer was a MAGA supporter.
Meanwhile, the show’s ratings continued to soar. According to Disney and analytics firm Nielsen, Jimmy Kimmel Live! averaged just 1.42 million viewers across the 2024-2025 season, making the 6.26 million who tuned in for his return all the more remarkable. On YouTube, his monologue racked up 17.7 million views in just 22 hours, marking a cultural milestone for late-night television.
Despite the record-breaking numbers, the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on all ABC affiliates remains uncertain. Sinclair and Nexstar, which together own a significant portion of the network’s stations, have yet to indicate when—or if—they will resume airing the show. As for Trump’s legal threats, it is unclear whether any action will materialize, though Kimmel seemed unfazed. “Next, he’ll try to sue us. And I wanna say, good luck with that. Because we thought about it, we packed the courts. And we have a surprise ace up our sleeve, Mr. Judge Steve Harvey. Survey says, you lose.”
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Kimmel’s return has reignited debates about the boundaries of comedy, the reach of political influence, and the enduring power of late-night television to shape national conversations. For now, viewers—and critics—are watching closely to see what happens next.
