Jimmy Kimmel Thanks Trump at Critics’ Choice Awards

During the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, known for his liberal stance, turned his acceptance speech into a commentary about President Donald Trump while receiving the Best Talk Show award.

Kimmel credited Trump for playing a key role in his show’s success, particularly after a tumultuous period when his program was suspended in 2025 following the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Interestingly, he also gave Trump a new nickname during the speech.

“And most of all, I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump. Without him, we would be going home empty-handed tonight,” Kimmel remarked.

He continued with a lighter tone, saying, “So, Mr. President, thank you for all the many ridiculous things you do every day. This has been quite a few weeks, and we can’t wait to be back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them.”

Kimmel was previously suspended by Disney after suggesting that the assassin might have links to MAGA, despite evidence pointing to his left-wing influences. The suspension was compounded by broadcast partners Nexstar and Sinclair choosing not to air the show in their regions.

Nexstar described Kimmel’s comments as “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in the national political debate,” expressing a desire to resume respectful dialogue.

After a brief pause from his show, Kimmel clarified his intentions, saying, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.” He also mentioned that he had shared a message on Instagram to express his condolences to Kirk’s family on the day of the incident.

In his acceptance speech, Kimmel took a moment to thank his writing team, acknowledging their support throughout his recent challenges.

“Thank you to all the writers, actors, producers, and union members. So many of you in this room supported us, stepped forward with us in earnest, and reminded us that we cannot take free speech for granted in this city or this country,” he said.

Kimmel emphasized, “Your actions matter and we appreciate them.”