Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel secured a major victory at the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, clinching the prize for best talk show and using his acceptance speech to deliver a pointed, sarcastic thank you to US President Donald Trump.
A Theatrical Thank You to the President
Opening his speech with a joke, Kimmel remarked that the "FIFA Peace Prize would have been better, but this is nice too". This was a clear reference to the controversial award given to Trump at the 2026 World Cup draw. The comedian then unrolled a comically long scroll of paper to deliver his remarks.
He thanked the critics, Disney executives Bob Iger and Dana Walden, and even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Of Altman, whose company struck a major deal with Disney in December, Kimmel quipped he "now owns my voice and face. Please don't do anything weird with it".
Background of Suspension and Backlash
The award comes after a tumultuous period for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which was indefinitely suspended by ABC on 17 September following on-air comments made after the killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. The show, which first aired in 2003, was reinstated just days later after significant public debate about free speech.
At the time, President Trump celebrated the initial suspension as "Great News for America", labelling the programme "ratings challenged" and later calling Kimmel a talentless "bum" who should be removed from the air. In December, ABC extended Kimmel's contract, which was due to expire in May, keeping him on air until at least 2027.
Kimmel's Gratitude and Closing Barb
In his speech, Kimmel expressed sincere thanks to writers, actors, and union members who supported him, stating they "reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted". He also thanked his agent and PR team for their support during the "tumultuous year".
He saved his final, most biting thanks for the president, whom he referred to as "Donald Jennifer Trump". "So thank you, Mr President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day," Kimmel said. "It's been a banner couple of weeks, and we can't wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them."
The host also made a joke about the uncertain future of late-night TV, suggesting that Sean Evans of Hot Ones might one day be "the only one left". This comes as several long-running shows face possible cancellation or extension.
Kimmel's criticism of Trump is not new. In a Channel 4 Alternative Christmas Message, he warned that "fascism" and "tyranny" were booming in the US, apologising to the British public. He directly linked this to the Trump administration's move on Christmas Eve to ban two British free speech campaigners from entering the US.
