Jimmy Kimmel returns to his late-night show with a fiery message for Trump.
The comedian is back on screens after last week’s indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! by ABC.
On Tuesday night (23 September), Kimmel had been suspended after addressing Kirk’s assassination and mocking President Trump's reaction to it.
The late-night host showed clips of Trump, who appeared to sidestep discussing the tragedy to announce the White House's renovation plans.
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Many people rejoiced at the news of his show's suspension, including Trump, while others called it an assault on free speech.
Yet, there are reportedly more ‘bombshells’ to be revealed in the fallout, according to Jimmy Kimmel’s cousin, Sal Iacono.
With his show back on air, Kimmel immediately used his opening dialogue to take fire at the US President.
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“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," Kimmel said, speaking about Trump. “That backfired bigly, he might need to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now.”
He went on to say: “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.”
Kimmel then addressed the Kirk incident: “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.
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“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.”
The TV show host also touched on the comments Kirk's widow, Erika, made at his memorial on Sunday (21 September).
“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 admitted. “And if there’s anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that, not this.”
Meanwhile, Trump expressed confusion over the show's return and ABC’s decision to bring the host back on air.