American talk show host Jimmy Kimmel used a prestigious British television platform on Christmas Day to deliver a scathing indictment of former President Donald Trump, claiming that 'tyranny is booming' in the United States.
A Transatlantic Christmas Warning
Selected to present Channel 4's annual Alternative Christmas Message, Kimmel addressed UK viewers directly, refusing to temper his criticism for the occasion. He asserted that the President has been 'both figuratively and literally tearing down the structures of our democracy', targeting institutions from the free press and science to judicial independence.
In a pointed reference to renovations at the White House, Kimmel slammed Trump for going after everything 'from the free press to science to medicine to judicial independence to the White House itself.' He added with heavy irony, 'From a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year.'
The Free Speech Battle and Suspension
Kimmel devoted a significant portion of his message to discussing his own brief suspension from ABC in September. This followed a monologue he delivered after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, where he criticised the 'MAGA gang' for their response to the murder.
The host told the British audience that a 'Christmas miracle' had occurred when millions, including people who disliked his show, rallied to defend free speech. 'We won, the president lost, and now I'm back on the air every night giving the most powerful politician on earth a right and richly deserved bollocking,' he said, deliberately using British slang.
He revealed that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr had warned ABC its broadcast license could be at risk, and Trump himself had suggested networks giving him bad press should have licenses revoked. The controversy sparked a major backlash, with an ACLU open letter signed by 400 stars, including Olivia Rodrigo, condemning Disney's decision to suspend him.
Reactions and a Plea to Britain
Kimmel, acknowledging he didn't expect Brits to know him, warned that silencing critics was not confined to authoritarian states. Despite the historical split, he urged the UK not to give up on the US during its 'bit of a wobble', apologising for the mess and its wider impact.
Public reaction, largely divided on political lines, saw many criticise Kimmel for repeating anti-Trump jokes. Others highlighted a perceived double standard, pointing to the recent arrest of British comedian Graham Linehan for anti-trans jokes as evidence of the UK's own free speech issues.
Kimmel concluded his monologue with a self-deprecating joke: 'We're not bright, we're Americans.' His show, now renewed until May 2027, is on holiday break and returns in early January. Channel 4's alternative broadcast, which began in 1993, has previously featured figures from Edward Snowden to Stephen Fry.
