Kimmel to address 'great year' for 'fascism' in UK Christmas message
- - Kimmel to address 'great year' for 'fascism' in UK Christmas message
Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYDecember 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM
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Jimmy Kimmel is closing out the most eventful year in the history of his late-night show.
The late-night host has been tapped to deliver an alternative Christmas message on Channel 4 in the U.K, where he will "reflect on the past few months in a deeply personal and characteristically jovial address," the network said.
According to Channel 4, Kimmel will say in the message, airing on Christmas Day, "From a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year."
Channel 4 has been airing its Christmas message since 1993 as an alternative to the holiday address delivered each year by the British monarch. Past speakers have included comedian Stephen Fry and whistleblower Edward Snowden, and the messages are generally "pertinent to the events of the past year," Channel 4 noted.
Jimmy Kimmel hosts "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
Kimmel's Christmas message will come more than three months after ABC made international news by temporarily suspending "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" due to comments the comedian made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. FCC chairman Brendan Carr had pressured ABC to take action against Kimmel, so the move sparked outcry and accusations of government censorship.
Kimmel says 'no one respects' Trump and 'world is laughing at him'
Kimmel has since returned to the air and continues to criticize President Donald Trump on a nightly basis, while Trump calls for Kimmel to be taken off the air again. In his first show after his suspension, Kimmel said it was "never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man." He later said his comments about Kirk were "intentionally" and "maliciously mischaracterized."
Jimmy Kimmel speaks during the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles on Oct. 8, 2025.Jimmy Kimmel cries in emotional final 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' monologue of 2025
Last week, Kimmel delivered his final monologue of 2025 and broke down in tears as he reflected on his "strange" and "hard" year. "We've had some lows, we've had some highs, for me maybe more than any year of my life. I'm crying already, I'm sorry," he said during his Dec. 18 show, choking up.
Kimmel had a difficult year not only due to his suspension but because of the death of his childhood best friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III.
Kimmel says 'no one respects' Trump and 'world is laughing at him'
resume production after it was pulled off the air Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!", will resume production after it was pulled off the air Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Fys_.hr.KhMxzUjxCdclTw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MjU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b99fcada615c931719928dd506a3248a class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!", will resume production after it was pulled off the air Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
">Comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!", will resume production after it was pulled off the air Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Fys_.hr.KhMxzUjxCdclTw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MjU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b99fcada615c931719928dd506a3248a class=caas-img>Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/OD3fgLWfwBXYVODaPArb6Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9f2567fe7df19ccdb66a36a6fe536600 class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
">In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/OD3fgLWfwBXYVODaPArb6Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9f2567fe7df19ccdb66a36a6fe536600 class=caas-img>In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FzFzcy_kAXK18g1DMb7bUw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a7787c461510dfe3e4ac81df787a7fdf class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
">"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FzFzcy_kAXK18g1DMb7bUw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a7787c461510dfe3e4ac81df787a7fdf class=caas-img>Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said ‘NO THANKS’ Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts “Last Week Tonight” is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said ‘NO THANKS’ Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/br78tzy0ST6OZsz8ldnY9w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f5d81f0a912d9fb5c8131f7d76664a88 class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts “Last Week Tonight” is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said ‘NO THANKS’ Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
">John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts “Last Week Tonight” is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said ‘NO THANKS’ Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/br78tzy0ST6OZsz8ldnY9w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f5d81f0a912d9fb5c8131f7d76664a88 class=caas-img>"I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>When CBS announced the network was terminating “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/GuWHrLEBpl3enxbdL3Qj7w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/bc29a33065546216b51047533665629f class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
When CBS announced the network was terminating “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
">When CBS announced the network was terminating “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/GuWHrLEBpl3enxbdL3Qj7w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/bc29a33065546216b51047533665629f class=caas-img>The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's “The Howard Stern Show” on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's “The Howard Stern Show” on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/STqpo49YN8HtgkWoxkQqHg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTg2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1161a9de81ca882af7c44505e46efb6a class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's “The Howard Stern Show” on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
">Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's “The Howard Stern Show” on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/STqpo49YN8HtgkWoxkQqHg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTg2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1161a9de81ca882af7c44505e46efb6a class=caas-img>
1 / 6Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!", will resume production after it was pulled off the air Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
He continued, "On behalf of all of us at the show, I just want to say that we appreciate your support, your enthusiasm, and not just for watching. This year, you literally pulled us out of a hole, and we cannot thank you enough."
While reflecting on the purpose of his show, Kimmel also said it's "important that we as Americans let our friends in other countries" know that "a lot of us are not OK with what is happening" amid the second Trump administration, adding, "We hope that you will bear with us during this extended psychotic episode that we're in the middle of."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jimmy Kimmel tapped for alternative Christmas address after suspension
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
