Critics Choice 2026: Jimmy Kimmel thanks Donald Trump during acceptance speech
At the Critics Choice, Jimmy Kimmel took a swipe at Donald Trump while accepting the award for ‘Best Talk Show’.
The ceremony took place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, with notable wins occurring for Timothée Chalamet, who took home ‘Best Actor’ for Marty Supreme, Jessie Hamnet also won ‘Best Actress’ for Hamnet, and One Battle After Another was crowned ‘Best Picture’, as well as Paul Thomas Anderson being named ‘Best Director’.
In addition to celebrating the past 12 months in cinema, the Critics Choice honours the best of television, including Jimmy Kimmel Live! taking home the award for ‘Best Talk Show’.
Notably, it has been a rollercoaster year for Kimmel. In September, he was taken off the air following comments he made about the reaction to the death of Charlie Kirk, a decision that was celebrated by President Donald Trump, who has also frequently called for him to be fired by ABC’s parent company, Disney.
In reference to his foe, Trump, Kimmel said in his speech, “FIFA Peace Prize would have been better, but this is nice too.”
Then, after thanking “our friends at ABC”, Kimmel turned his attention to ChatGPT founder Sam Altman by referencing the recent deal between Disney and OpenAI, noting that he “now owns my voice and face. Please don’t do anything weird with it”.
He also shared his gratitude with those that he works with behind the scenes “during a tumultuous year” before saying, “All the writers and actors and producers and union members, many of you who are in this room, who supported us, who really stepped forward and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or in this country.”
Kimmel profoundly added, “Your actions are important, and we appreciate them.”
The comedian then delivered one last joke at Trump’s expense, thanking him for the non-stop material that he gives Jimmy Kimmel Live!, adding, “Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we would be going home empty handed tonight.”
In the ‘Best Talk Show’ category, Kimmel beat competition including The Daily Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, and Hot Ones.
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