Jimmy Kimmel acknowledged former President Donald Trump in his acceptance speech after winning Best Talk Show at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. Kimmel’s show was temporarily suspended in September following his controversial comments about the death of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
During his speech, Kimmel thanked supporters who defended free speech, stating, “Your actions were important.” He then sarcastically credited Trump: “I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we would be going home empty-handed tonight,” adding gratitude for Trump’s “many ridiculous things you do each and every day.”
Backstage, Kimmel described his suspension as a “near-death experience,” expressing relief at public support for comedians. ABC pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr proposed an investigation into Kimmel’s remarks, where he suggested Kirk’s alleged killer supported Trump’s MAGA movement and criticized Trump’s response to Kirk’s death.
The suspension lasted under a week. Returning to air, Kimmel emotionally clarified he never intended to trivialize Kirk’s death but continued mocking Trump: “He tried his best to cancel me. Instead, he forced millions to watch the show,” calling the outcome a “backfire.”