Jimmy Kimmel used his Critics Choice Awards win to land a jibe at Donald Trump, thanking the US president for providing endless material for his late-night show. Accepting the award for Best Talk Show on Sunday, Kimmel quipped: 'I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we'd be going home empty-handed tonight. So thank you, Mr President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day.'
The joke referenced Trump's previous demand to have Kimmel's show axed after it frequently targeted him with satire. Political commentary on Jimmy Kimmel Live! has become a ratings driver, but also sparked controversy. In September, Disney suspended Kimmel for six days after he made remarks about the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel had criticised the 'MAGA gang' for trying to characterise the killer as anything other than one of them. The suspension prompted debate over free speech, but viewership rose when the show returned. Trump later dismissed the suspension, claiming Kimmel was fired for 'lack of talent' rather than his comments, adding: 'They should have fired him a long time ago.'
