Jimmy Kimmel thanks Donald Trump for ‘many ridiculous things' as he bags win at Critics Choice Awards 2026

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel has done it again! Kimmel accepted his win for Best Talk Show at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards with an epic “thank you” to US President Donald Trump.

The award-winning show was temporarily pulled off the air in September 2025 over his controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death.

In his acceptance speech, Kimmel thanked the show's crew before taking a moment to thank the man without whom, the comedian said, the win wouldn't have been possible.

“…I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom, we would be going home empty-handed tonight,” Kimmel said. “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,” a cheerful Kimmel said.

‘Near-death experience’

Reflecting on the show's suspension backstage, the comedian told the reporters that it felt like a “near-death experience”.

“It was almost a near-death experience for me, of course, not literally, but I did feel like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral,” Page Six quoted Kimmel as saying.

Recalling people's reaction to the show's suspension, Kimmel said, it was “not just a positive way, but almost a desperate way”.

“We’re like, ‘Oh boy, when they come after the comedians this is when we draw the line’,” he said. “We’re really grateful that they drew the line at us.”

ABC suspended Kimmel’s late-night show after Nexstar Media threatened to preempt airings of the program over his comments on the conservative pundit's death, alleging that the killer was a MAGA “Make America Great Again” supporter.

Kimmel had claimed that the “MAGA gang” was using Kirk’s death as a move to gain political points.

Jimmy Kimmel vs Donald Trump

Jimmy Kimmel and Donald Trump have been very vocal about their hate for each other and often make statements dissing at each other.

In a special Christmas Day message for UK viewers, Kimmel took a “fascism” dig at Trump and said, “Tyranny is booming over here (America).”

"You may have read in your colourful newspapers that my country’s president would like to shut me up – because I don’t adore him in the way he likes to be adored," Kimmel added.

Earlier in November, Trump had lashed out at Kimmel on Truth Social and accused him of being ‘a man with NO TALENT’.

Trump wrote, “Why does ABC Fake News keep Jimmy Kimmel, a man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS, on the air? Why do the TV Syndicates put up with it? Also, totally biased coverage. Get the bum off the air!!! (sic).”