Jimmy Kimmel Live! lives on, to the dismay of President Donald Trump.
Jimmy Kimmel just secured a one-year extension to his contract with Disney-owned ABC, months after the show was suspended over Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the president’s office pushed to end the show.
The Emmy-winning talk show host confirmed the news on Instagram on Monday, Dec. 8, captioning it, “Happy to announce another year without talent!”
He also made the announcement toward the end of his opening monologue on Monday’s episode, which featured guests Teyana Taylor, Quinta Brunson and more. After relentlessly mocking Trump’s hosting gig at the Kennedy Center Honors the previous night, Kimmel had one last bit of bad news for the US president.
“The last thing I want to do is disturb you at this sensitive time,” Kimmel told Trump, “but I have one more bit of entertainment news to share, and that’s that I’ve decided to extend my contract here at ABC for another year,” he announced at the end of his monologue as roaring applause erupted from the audience.
Explaining his decision, he said: “I thought a lot and decided I wanted to spend less time with my family, so I’m honored and humbled to our audience here and at home, to be a part of your routine… It means a lot to me to have your attention – and to work with this amazing group of people for another year.”
The update comes after a turbulent stretch for the 58-year-old host. Earlier this year, ABC briefly pulled his show after a monologue referencing Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer put Kimmel right at the center of the country’s political divide.
According to CNNDisney always remained “hopeful” about Kimmel’s return, given his longstanding relationship with top executives and his enduring status as one of ABC’s most valuable personalities.
Trump has been vocally critical of Kimmel ever since the dispute broke out. He cheered the show’s suspension, called the host “talentless,” mocked his ratings and called on networks to cancel more late-night shows.
After ABC was reinstated Jimmy Kimmel Live!Trump continued to criticize the network and floated the idea of regulatory action, referring to ABC as “Fake News.”
