Jimmy Kimmel returns, says he never meant to 'make light of the murder' of Charlie Kirk
The Excerpt
USA TODAY
4.1 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 24 September 2025
⏱️ 13 minutes
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Summary
Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television Tuesday, where he addressed his show's suspension.
USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison takes a look at some of the MAGA backlash toward President Donald Trump over free speech concerns.
A 59-year-old man has been found guilty of trying to assassinate Trump last year.
USA TODAY White House Correspondent Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy recaps the president's address to the United Nations General Assembly.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Your first great love story is free when you sign up for a free 30-day trial at audible.co. |
| 0:05.5 | That's audible.co.uk slash wondering. |
| 0:14.5 | Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson. Today is Wednesday, September 24th, 2025. |
| 0:22.4 | This is USA Today's The Exit. Today, how Jimmy Kimmel addressed viewers on his first night back after his show's |
| 0:29.5 | suspension, plus backlash from some Trump MAGA allies over free speech concerns, and we |
| 0:34.8 | recap the president's address to the UN General Assembly. |
| 0:39.3 | Jimmy Kimmel gave a nearly 18-minute opening monologue on the first night back following his show's |
| 0:44.0 | temporary suspension over comments he made about Charlie Kirk. |
| 0:47.5 | The comedian teared up while recounting the support he received in recent days, including |
| 0:51.5 | from figures he didn't always agree with, and echoed sentiments |
| 0:54.6 | about the importance of free speech. |
| 0:56.8 | This show is not important. |
| 0:58.8 | What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this. |
| 1:04.8 | Kimmel also said he didn't think the murderer of Charlie Kirk represents anyone, and he applauded |
| 1:09.5 | Kirk's widow, Erica, for forgiving |
| 1:11.2 | the alleged killer. He also said it was never his intention to make light of the murder of a young man. |
| 1:16.2 | Kimmel also criticized the FCC chair and his employer network ABC, saying he was not happy when they |
| 1:21.2 | pulled him off the air, but was thankful he was welcomed back. Kimmel also called President Donald |
| 1:25.9 | Trump a bully. Trump ahead of Kimmel's highly |
| 1:28.2 | anticipated monologue took to Truth Social to share he was appalled by ABC's decision and insinuated |
| 1:34.2 | he would file a lawsuit against the network. While Kimmel returned for some viewers, Next Star, |
| 1:39.1 | and Sinclair announced they would still not be airing the show on their ABC affiliate stations. |
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