Jimmy Kimmel roasts Trump and praises ‘free speech’ as he wins at Critics Choice Awards 2026… after Charlie Kirk suspension

Jimmy Kimmel roasted President Donald Trump and praised the importance of free speech while accepting the award for Best Talk Show at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Award.

The late-night host’s show was controversially suspended last year after Kimmel made comments about Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin in a monologue; It was a break praised by Trump, who was the butt of the comedian’s frequent jokes.

The suspension was lifted a few days later, but concerns were raised about the future of free speech in the US; It’s a topic Kimmel made sure to bring up when accepting his award on Sunday.

‘Thanks to all the writers, actors, producers and union members. “So many of you in this room have supported us, stepped forward with us, and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or in this country,” Kimmel, 58, said. ‘Your actions matter and we appreciate them.’

He then mocked Trump, 79, and thanked him for ‘a lot of the stupid things you’ve done’.

“And most of all, I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump,” he continued. ‘Without anyone, we would have gone home empty-handed tonight.

Trump verbally sparred with Kimmel and praised Kimmel’s suspension of his show following his comments about Charlie Kirk being an alleged assassin

‘So Mr. President, thank you for the many ridiculous things you do every day. It’s been a hot topic for a few weeks now and we can’t wait to get on air tomorrow night and talk about them. Thank you everyone.’

Kimmel shamelessly attacked Trump throughout the year, using his platform to criticize the President’s policies, rhetoric, and character, leading to a long-running rivalry.

Following Kirk’s assassination in September 2025, he was taken off the air for delivering a monologue claiming that the ‘MAGA mob’ were ‘trying to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as someone other than one of them, and doing everything they could to score political points off of it’.

He also accused them of ‘working too hard to profit from the murder’ before claiming Trump was mourning like ‘a four-year-old mourning a goldfish’.

The conservative activist was assassinated on September 10, at the age of 31, during one of the famous campus debates at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged with murder for allegedly shooting from the roof during Kirk’s speech.

Disney-owned ABC took his show off the air in response, while FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned that the network’s license could be at risk due to Kimmel’s content.

Trump then suggested that if any TV stations gave him bad news, ‘maybe their license should be taken away’.

The debate sparked backlash and protests; The White House was accused of violating freedom of expression and press.

Conservative activist Kirk, photographed in 2020, was assassinated on September 10, at the age of 31, during one of his famous on-campus debates at Utah Valley University.

Kimmel said his colleagues “stepped up with us and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or in this country.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live! The star’s wife, Molly McNearney, who served as co-writer and executive producer of the program, was also present on stage.

Disney faced huge pressure from Hollywood stars after suspending Kimmel. Singer Olivia Rodrigo was among 400 stars who signed an ACLU open letter supporting free speech and condemning Disney’s decision.

Less than a week later, Kimmel returned to his show and, in an emotional monologue in which he nearly burst into tears, said he wasn’t trying to joke about Kirk’s killing.

“I’m under no illusion that I’m going to change anyone’s mind, but I want to make something clear, because this is important to me as a human being, and that means you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said.

‘I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.’

He added that he was not trying to blame any group for the actions of an individual who was clearly deeply disturbed. This was actually the opposite of the point I was trying to make.’

The late-night host’s show was controversially suspended last year after Kimmel made comments about Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin in a monologue.

The comedian and his wife were photographed on the Critics’ Choice Awards red carpet

He said he understood the remarks some made last week “felt either ill-timed or unclear or perhaps both.”

Kimmel thanked his many supporters, including fellow late-night hosts past and present and even a former boss at a Seattle radio station who met with him last week.

He also singled out people he knew were not fans of his comedy but who defended his right to speak, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

The show returned to big ratings on its first night, but quickly bounced back.

Kimmel’s wife and head writer Molly McNearney previously admitted that she and her husband thought his career was effectively over.

But he secured the show a one-year contract extension, keeping it on the air until May 2027.