Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel used the United Kingdom’s Alternative Christmas Message on December 25, 2025, to attack President Donald Trump, saying “tyranny is booming” in the United States and taunting the president over the return of his ABC show to the air earlier this year.
Channel 4 selected Kimmel to deliver the annual broadcast, which airs opposite the BBC’s Royal Christmas message.
Kimmel opened with a bleak summary of American politics “from a fascism perspective,” adding, “tyranny is booming over here.” He told viewers they may have read that the U.S. government “made a threat against me and the company I work for, and all of a sudden we were off the air,” a reference to the temporary suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in September. He said widespread public pressure followed and the show returned, calling it a “September miracle.”
What Kimmel Claimed About the Show’s Suspension
Kimmel said “millions and millions” spoke out in favor of free expression, including people who dislike his program, and that the pushback helped restore the show. “Our show came back stronger than ever. We won, the president lost,” he said, adding that he is back “every night” giving the “most powerful politician on earth” a richly deserved scolding. He joked about British slang during the monologue, asking if he used “bollocking” correctly.
The comedian framed his experience as a cautionary tale for audiences who might assume government pressure against critics “happens in places like Russia, or North Korea, or L.A., not the U.K.” He said Americans once thought the same, then referred to “King Donny the Eighth calling for executions,” arguing that crackdowns can accelerate quickly.
He closed by apologizing “on behalf of the U.S.,” saying Trump may think he is a “king” but does not represent all Americans. “Thank you for Spider-Man,” he quipped, before wishing viewers a Merry Christmas.
Channel 4 Tradition and This Year’s Spotlight
The Alternative Christmas Message has featured public figures and cultural voices since it began in the 1990s. Kimmel’s booking drew attention because it put a prominent U.S. late-night host in a slot known for sharp commentary.
The segment typically mixes humor with topical criticism and is intended as counter-programming to the monarch’s address. Kimmel’s remarks concentrated on U.S. politics, media freedom, and the tensions of the past year.
Producers emphasized editorial independence when announcing the broadcast. The network has a track record of tapping comedians, activists, and sometimes controversial personalities for the role.
Kimmel’s script leaned on first-person claims about pressure on his show, to which ABC and parent company Disney responded earlier in the fall by temporarily pulling “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after a segment that referenced a suspected murderer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel returned the following week and said he did not intend to make light of a death or mislead viewers.
White House Response
Asked by Fox News Digital to respond, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson dismissed the segment. “Reacting to Jimmy Kimmel’s ‘Christmas speech’ would require me to watch it, and like many Americans, I didn’t even know it was happening,” she said. “Jimmy has unfortunately wasted his time, yet again, doing something no one cares to watch. Merry Christmas.”
The administration has previously criticized late-night hosts over political monologues, arguing that network platforms should not be used to attack elected officials.
Kimmel’s message, however, focused on his account of a temporary suspension and on broader warnings about political power and speech. His remarks landed in the middle of a holiday week when audiences in the U.K. traditionally tune into both the royal address and Channel 4’s alternate broadcast.
