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Jimmy Kimmel Criticizes Trump, Says He Never Meant to Make Light of Kirk’s Killing in TV Return

Jimmy Kimmel returned after a brief suspension triggered by political backlash, with Sinclair and Nexstar affiliates still pre-empting his show amid a national free speech debate.

  • On Tuesday, Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television after a nearly weeklong suspension, as ABC reinstated him following backlash against parent company Disney with staffers reporting relief and a standing ovation.
  • ABC suspended the show last Wednesday after Jimmy Kimmel's monologues about the accused suspect in Charlie Kirk's killing sparked an angry reaction and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened regulatory action.
  • Kimmel opened his 16-minute monologue by saying `it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man` and praised Erika Kirk for forgiving her husband's killer, emphasizing his emotional apology.
  • Two station groups, Sinclair and Nexstar, said they'd pre-empt Kimmel's show on about a quarter of ABC stations, including Washington, D.C.; St. Louis; Nashville, Tennessee; and Richmond, Virginia, while Disney faced cancellations and explained the suspension.
  • The episode sparked a national debate about free speech, with an American Civil Liberties Union letter backed by entertainers and Democratic lawmakers questioning local affiliates and corporate station owners.
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Jimmy Kimmel Rips Into Trump on Night 2 of His Return After Suspension

'The second Trump is alone, he sits on the toilet, he gets his grubby little thumbs on his phone.'

·Georgia, United States
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U.S. News broke the news in New York, United States on Monday, September 22, 2025.
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