Jimmy Kimmel’s Bold Promise to Donald Trump at the Critics Choice Awards
Jimmy Kimmel’s Bold Promise to Donald Trump at the Critics Choice Awards
On January 4, 2026, at the 31st Critics Choice Awards held in Santa Monica, Jimmy Kimmel, the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, made headlines once again. This time, it was for his memorable acceptance speech after winning the Best Talk Show award. Kimmel, who has had a tumultuous year, used this platform to make a bold promise to none other than President Donald Trump.
Kimmel’s Rollercoaster Year
2025 was a rollercoaster year for Jimmy Kimmel. His show was briefly suspended in September following comments he made about the murder of right-wing figure Charlie Kirk. This suspension led to a week-long absence from the airwaves, which sparked a wave of support from his celebrity friends and fellow talk show hosts, as well as criticism from the Trump administration.
Despite the controversy, Kimmel returned to the airwaves after a battle with ABC broadcasting partners. His return was marked by an emotional outpouring of support from his colleagues and viewers alike.
The Critics Choice Awards Win
At the Critics Choice Awards, Jimmy Kimmel Live! won the Best Talk Show award for the second time, the first being in 2018. Kimmel used his acceptance speech to thank his team and, unexpectedly, President Donald Trump.
Kimmel joked, “I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we’d be going home empty-handed tonight.” This humorous jab at the President’s name (Donald John Trump) was met with laughter from the audience.
A Promise to Trump
Kimmel didn’t stop there. He continued, “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 wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them.” This statement was a clear promise to continue addressing Trump’s actions and policies on his show.
Gratitude to Colleagues
Despite the light-hearted jabs, Kimmel also took a moment to sincerely thank his colleagues. He said, “Thank you 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 for us, and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or this country.”
The Future of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been renewed by ABC for another year, extending until 2027. While the show seems set to continue for a few more years, Kimmel has already shared his thoughts on how he wants it to end.
In a recent interview on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast, Kimmel shared, “I want to end it in a graceful way. I want to have a farewell party with our staff. I want to do all those things,” adding that he wanted to “say the things that I want to say to people.”
