Kimmel needs to get a life.
Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel is preparing to deliver Great Britain’s annual “alternative Christmas message,” a broadcast designed to contrast with the traditional holiday address from King Charles. This year’s message, however, is expected to include pointed political commentary targeting President Donald Trump and broader conservative movements.
According to a press release from the British television network Channel 4, which will air the segment on Christmas Day, Kimmel is slated to open with remarks framing 2025 as a positive year “from a fascism perspective.” The comments are widely viewed as a reference to President Trump’s return to the White House and the political shifts that followed.
The planned message is also expected to reflect on Kimmel’s own controversies over the past year. ABC temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the host made remarks following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Those comments sparked widespread criticism and renewed debate over media responsibility, political rhetoric, and free speech standards on network television.
Channel 4’s promotional materials explicitly connect Kimmel’s appearance to President Trump’s leadership and influence, describing 2025 as a defining year globally. A spokesperson for the network praised Kimmel as a fitting choice, citing his visibility in ongoing cultural debates in the United States.
Critics, however, argue that Kimmel’s framing reflects a familiar pattern among elite media figures—using entertainment platforms to advance political narratives while dismissing or marginalizing conservative viewpoints. Many Trump supporters point to what they see as a double standard in how speech is treated depending on political alignment.
While the alternative Christmas message is not widely known in the United States, it has been a British tradition since 1993. The broadcast typically features a high-profile figure delivering a more informal or political message to contrast with the monarch’s formal address.
Kimmel is not the first American selected for the role. Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson previously delivered the message in 1994. Other past presenters have included former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Afghan war veteran Major Andrew Stockton.
For many observers, Kimmel’s selection highlights the growing intersection of entertainment, politics, and international media—and raises continued questions about how cultural influence is used to shape public opinion during pivotal political moments.
