Jimmy Kimmel has savage message for Trump as he addresses show suspension at Critics Choice Awards

Jimmy Kimmel has never been one to shy away from a punchline at Donald Trump’s expense, and he proved it once again while collecting a major win at this year’s Critics Choice Awards.

The late-night host picked up the Best Talk Show prize at the ceremony yesterday (January 4), and used his acceptance speech to fire shots at the 79-year-old president.

The 58-year-old's win comes months after Jimmy Kimmel Live! was briefly pulled off the air by ABC, following complaints from two major affiliate station owners, Nexstar and Sinclair, over a monologue in which Kimmel discussed Charlie Kirk’s alleged shooter.

Rather than glossing over the controversy, Kimmel leaned straight into it during his onstage speech, thanking those who backed him when his show was suspended.

“Thanks to all the writers and actors and producers and union members, many of you who are in this room, who supported us, who really stepped forward us and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or in this country,” he said. “Your actions were important, and we appreciate them.”

He then turned his attention to the POTUS.

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

“So thank you, Mr President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day. It’s been a banner couple of weeks, and we can’t get wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them. Thank you, everyone.”

Kimmel's show suspension explained

It's been three months since Kimmel was suspended by ABC, and while he's since scored a new deal with Disney that will see him on air through 2027, let's recap what went down in September.

Following news that the veteran talk show host had been pulled from ABC after 22 years, Trump took to social media to celebrate the production being axed.

“Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” he wrote. “Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible.”

But what exactly did Kimmel say to warrant the suspension?

The controversy erupted just days after Turning Point USA co-founder Kirk was assassinated while attending an event hosted by his conservative student organisation at Utah Valley University. The attack took place on September 10.

Kirk, who was a father-of-two, was shot in the neck and later pronounced dead at a hospital in Orem, Utah. Police arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing, charging him over the death of the 31-year-old political activist.

During Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 15, the host addressed the tragedy while also taking aim at how parts of the MAGA movement - and Trump himself - reacted in the aftermath.

Kimmel mocked what he described as Trump’s public 'grief' and the online debate surrounding the alleged shooter’s political views.

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”

He added: “On Friday, the White House flew the flags at half staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this.”

The show then cut to a clip of Trump being questioned by reporters about how he was coping with the death of someone described as a ‘good friend’.

"I think very good," Trump responded, before talking about the construction of the White House's ballroom.

Once the clip ended, the camera returned to Kimmel.

“Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief, construction,” the talk show host quipped.

He doubled down moments later, adding: “Demolition, construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish, okay?”

The segment quickly sparked outrage among Trump supporters, which led to the suspension, but just five days later Kimmel was back on air behind his desk.

UNILAD has contacted the White House for comment.