Kimmel Responds to Trump on 2nd Night Back, as His Return Draws Record-Breaking Viewership

Jimmy Kimmel’s return to the airwaves with his late-night show drew record ratings, delivering the highest-performing regularly scheduled episode in over a decade.

The comeback followed ABC’s decision to pull the show after backlash from the Trump administration over Kimmel’s comments criticizing Donald Trump and Republican leaders’ response to the death of Charlie Kirk.

According to NBC, the episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! drew 6.26 million total viewers, based on preliminary Nielsen ratings, marking the show’s highest-performing regularly scheduled episode in more than a decade.

The achievement was all the more remarkable given that the program did not air on nearly a quarter of U.S. television stations, as two major ABC affiliate owners, Nexstar and Sinclair, refused to broadcast it despite Disney’s decision to approve Kimmel’s return to the air.

The YouTube episode titled «Jimmy Kimmel is Back!» scored big, drawing 20 million views in 24 hours.

You can’t believe they gave me my job back? I can’t believe we gave you your job back!

-Jimmy Kimmel

Trump’s Outburst, Anger and Threats

Donald Trump erupted on Truth Social after Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night TV, unleashing a furious tirade against both the comedian and ABC.

He accused the network of making a «big mistake», mocked Kimmel as talentless, and branded his show «Democrat garbage.»

Trump went further by raising the threat of legal action, boasting of a past $16 million settlement with ABC and hinting that another lawsuit could be «even more lucrative.»

His outburst, filled with anger and intimidation, blurred the line between presidential power and media independence in an unprecedented way.

Kimmel Responds on His Second Night Back

Jimmy Kimmel used his second night back on the air to hit back at the president’s attacks.

Far from being intimidated, Kimmel reminded Trump, who had told him to «rot in his bad ratings», that the president’s own poll numbers weren’t much better, joking that he was welcome to join the «bad ratings club.»

Responding to Trump’s Truth Social post that read, «I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back,» Kimmel fired back:

«You can’t believe they gave me my job back? I can’t believe we gave you your job back!»

An Emotional First Monologue

Jimmy Kimmel returned to his late-night show this week after being briefly forced off the air, a move he said came under pressure from the Trump administration. His comeback monologue mixed emotion with defiance as he accused the president of trying to silence him, warning that such intimidation threatened not only ABC but the constitutional right to free expression and the role of a free press in a democracy. He called the effort «anti-American.»

«The government cannot be allowed to control what we do and do not say on television.»

Kimmel described the wave of solidarity he received in the days following his suspension, noting that support came not just from viewers but also from fellow late-night hosts in the U.S. and abroad, as well as unexpected voices on the political right. While stressing his sharp disagreements with figures like Ben Shapiro, Candace Owens, and Ted Cruz, he thanked them for defending his right to speak freely. «The government cannot be allowed to control what we do and do not say on television,» Kimmel declared.

The host also addressed the controversy that triggered his removal. He insisted he never intended to make light of the killing of Charlie Kirk, recalling that he had immediately posted condolences to Kirk’s family. His criticism, he said, was directed not at the victim or any political group, but at the broader climate of violence.

«This was a sick person who believed violence was a solution, and it isn’t… ever,» Kimmel said firmly.

Kimmel accused the Trump administration, including FCC director Brendan Carr, of threatening broadcasters and pushing censorship, tactics he compared to mob-style intimidation. He highlighted the irony of Republicans who once defended free speech now calling for late-night hosts to be silenced. He also warned that the administration’s approach extended beyond comedy shows, pointing to new Pentagon rules restricting journalists from publishing without government approval.

While thanking Disney for ultimately allowing his show to return, Kimmel acknowledged the company faced political risk in defying Trump’s demands. He even joked about the supposed condition of his comeback: being asked to read instructions on how to re-subscribe to Disney+ and Hulu, a wink at the wave of cancellations that had followed his removal.

Kimmel ended his first show back on a personal note, praising Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, for her act of forgiveness toward her husband’s killer. He described it as «a selfless act of grace» and reminded viewers that, in the end, it is such humanity that truly matters.