Kimmel needs to be fired.
Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel is dealing more backlash after using a Christmas broadcast aimed at a foreign audience to sharply criticize the United States and President Donald Trump—a move many viewers say revealed more hypocrisy than humor.
Kimmel was invited to take part in Channel 4’s annual “Alt. Christmas Message,” a well-established British broadcast that runs as an alternative to the BBC’s traditional Royal Christmas address. The program is normally meant to offer a humorous or unconventional take on the holiday. This year, however, Kimmel used the opportunity to deliver a sharply political message aimed at the United States itself.
During the address, Kimmel claimed that “tyranny is booming” in the United States and went so far as to apologize to viewers overseas, stating, “We are not bright. We’re Americans.” The remarks immediately sparked criticism from commentators who questioned why a wealthy Hollywood celebrity would use an international broadcast to disparage his own country.
Among those pushing back was Tom Bevan, co-founder of RealClearPolitics, who described Kimmel’s comments as internally inconsistent.
“If tyranny were truly flourishing in America, Jimmy Kimmel wouldn’t be hosting a nationally televised show five nights a week,” Bevan said during an appearance on America’s Newsroom. “The fact that he can openly attack the president on network television is evidence of a free society.”
Bevan also questioned Kimmel’s claim that President Trump wanted to silence him, pointing out that Kimmel has remained one of the most prominent figures in late-night entertainment throughout Trump’s presidency.
“If the system were truly authoritarian,” Bevan added, “Kimmel wouldn’t still be on the air, let alone thriving financially.”
The backlash extended beyond television. Many users on X criticized Kimmel for condemning America while ignoring ongoing free-speech controversies in the United Kingdom, where individuals have faced legal consequences over social-media posts—an issue Kimmel did not mention during his address.
Kimmel’s comments also revived memories of earlier controversies. In September, Disney temporarily removed his show from its lineup after Kimmel suggested—without verified evidence—that the suspected killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was a Trump supporter. Several local broadcasters declined to air the program for days following the remarks.
Although Kimmel later said he did not intend to trivialize the tragedy, the incident highlighted growing concerns about political bias in late-night television. While controversy can sometimes boost short-term ratings, industry data shows that most late-night programs have experienced long-term audience declines.
“They’ve become increasingly niche,” Bevan explained. “They largely cater to a narrow, politically aligned audience, and that has cost them viewers.”
Despite declining viewership across the genre, ABC recently extended Kimmel’s contract beyond its original May 2026 expiration, securing his role through 2027.
For many older Americans, Kimmel’s Christmas message served as another reminder of how disconnected Hollywood elites have become from everyday citizens—especially those who still believe patriotism and free speech should not be treated as punchlines.
