Jimmy Kimmel Slams Trump in Second Night Back After ABC Suspension
- Rahaman Hadisur
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA
Jimmy Kimmel used his second night back on air to deliver a sharp critique of former President Donald Trump, calling him an “’80s-movie-style bully” while defending his right to lampoon political leaders.
In his Wednesday monologue, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host dissected Trump’s latest social media post, in which the former president accused him of being “an arm of the Democratic Party” and warned ABC against airing his show. “Only Donald Trump would try to prove he wasn’t threatening ABC by threatening ABC,” Kimmel quipped.
The late-night comedian, suspended last week after controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer, returned Tuesday to record-breaking ratings. His comeback centered on free speech and resisting political intimidation. “This show is not important,” Kimmel told viewers. “What’s important is that we live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
Kimmel acknowledged his remarks about Kirk had sparked outrage, but said it was not his “intention to make light of the murder of a young man.” Still, Trump allies including FCC commissioner Brendan Carr and Vice President JD Vance criticized both Kimmel and ABC, with some station groups still refusing to broadcast the show.
On Wednesday, Kimmel doubled down, joking that supporting Trump was like “rooting for Biff from Back to the Future,” contrasting himself with protagonist Marty McFly. He also brushed off criticism that his monologues focus too heavily on Trump. “I talk about Trump more than anything because he’s a bully. I don’t like bullies I played the clarinet in high school.”
Despite ongoing pre-emptions across dozens of ABC affiliates, Kimmel’s return has energized debates over media freedom, political pressure, and the limits of comedy in America’s polarized landscape.
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