Jimmy Kimmel made a long-awaited return to late-night television this week. His comeback monologue was one of the most anticipated in late-night comedy this year. Kimmel delivered it with his usual mix of humor and pointed commentary. He opened by thanking people on both sides of the political spectrum for their support. He also offered a heartfelt apology to anyone who had thought he was celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death, clearing the air after weeks of controversy.
Despite the generally positive reception, Donald Trump reacted angrily. Now that Kimmel is back on air, Trump announced he would be looking into another potential lawsuit against ABC. This is consistent with the Trump administration’s ongoing tension with the media, which has often involved targeting late-night hosts. While other administration officials have tried to frame incidents like CBS canceling Stephen Colbert’s show or Nexstar preempting Kimmel in some regions as simply free market decisions, Trump himself has frequently taken a more direct, personal approach.
The Federal Communications Commission’s chairman even issued a warning during the saga, saying, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” signaling the limit of the administration’s media pressure tactics. However, Nexstar’s 32 affiliates and Sinclair’s 38 affiliates have continued to enforce the Jimmy Kimmel ban. This means that Kimmel’s show remains unavailable to as many as 100 million viewers across the U.S. Despite these restrictions, Kimmel’s monologue was posted on the show’s official YouTube channel, where it remains available globally on demand.
Trump took to Truth Social to share his frustrations about late-night comedy. He highlighted that ABC had supposedly “cancelled” Kimmel’s show and suggested that the network now faced consequences for allowing the comedian back on air. He wrote, “The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled!… I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative.” These comments reinforce the view that the administration has been actively trying to censor comedians who challenge Trump, despite repeated denials from officials.
Kimmel’s monologue didn’t shy away from mocking Trump either. While he thanked certain Republican figures like Ted Cruz and walked back some controversial comments about Kirk’s killer, he spared no humor for Trump or the FCC. Kimmel highlighted Trump’s reputation for being thin-skinned and incorporated a comedic sketch with Robert De Niro, who played a mafia-style FCC leader attempting to extort him. The De Niro bit was widely praised for its humor and may become a recurring segment.
This return places Kimmel firmly in the spotlight again. Even though his television reach is still limited due to preemptions, he now has Trump’s full attention. The dynamic creates a situation where Kimmel can use his platform to challenge Trump more directly, and the public seems eager to watch how it unfolds.
At this point, it remains uncertain whether Trump will follow through with another lawsuit or if his threats are merely bluffs to intimidate the network and the comedian. Either way, Kimmel’s return has turned into a major cultural moment, blending political commentary, comedy, and the ongoing media tug-of-war between the late-night world and the Trump administration.
