Jimmy Kimmel has returned to his show and took shots directly aimed at Donald Trump after the president rejoiced at his suspension.
The comedian didn’t shy away from making more jokes ridiculing Trump on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday night (September 23).
Kimmel was previously suspended for just under a week after he dove into the topic of Charlie Kirk and the conservatives' reactions to his assassination.
This including showing clips of Trump who appeared to sidestep talking about the right-wing activist in favor of his renovation plans.
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The following day, ABC said Kimmel's show would be 'pre-empted indefinitely' and while many people rejoiced at this news, Trump included, others called it an assault on free speech.
In his first opening dialogue after returning to the screen, Kimmel didn’t shy away from mocking the US president.
Speaking about Trump, he said: “You almost have to feel sorry for him, he tried his best to cancel me and instead he forced millions of people to watch the show.”
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Kimmel continued: “The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.
“One thing I did learn from Lenny Bruce and George Carlin and Howard Stern, is that a government threat to silence a comedian the president doesn’t like is anti-American.”
On a more serious note, the TV host addressed those who were critical of his apparent sensitivity while speaking about Kirk.
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While holding back tears, he said: “I want to make something clear because it is important to me as a human and that is that it was never my intention to make light of a murder of a young man.
“I don’t think there is anything funny about it, I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed sending love to his family and asking for compassion and I meant it and I still do.”
Kimmel also touched on the comments Kirk's widow, Erika, made at his memorial on Sunday (September 21).
“Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband,” he noted. “That is an example we should follow.”
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“It touched me deeply,” Kimmel went on to add. “And if there’s anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that, not this.”
Trump had his own message to Kimmel and ABC, where he admitted he was confused as to why the show was returning.
Writing on Truth Social on Tuesday night, he said: “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back.
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“The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.
“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.”
This was seemingly in reference to the settlement he reached with ABC last year in a defamation lawsuit Trump filed against the network.
Topics: Donald Trump, Jimmy Kimmel, News, US News, Film and TV
Gerrard Kaonga