Jimmy Kimmel will poke fun at a ‘great year’ from a ‘fascism perspective’ when he delivers the Channel 4 Alternative Christmas Message.
The chat show host, who was taken off air following controversial comments he made accusing Donald Trump and his allies of capitalising on Charlie Kirk‘s murder, will begin his speech by saying: ‘From a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year.’
The comedian, 58, was suspended from hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live in September before returning five days later.
He will compare Trump’s administration to the rise of fascism in his Christmas message as he sits beside a cup of tea and a plate of jammy dodger biscuits.
Kimmel has unabashedly hit out at Trump, using his platform to criticize the president’s policies, rhetoric, and character, leading to a long-standing rivalry.
Following Kirk’s death, he delivered a monologue claiming the ‘MAGA gang’ was ‘desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it’.
He also accused them of ‘working very hard to capitalise on the murder’, before claiming Trump was grieving like a ‘four-year-old mourns a goldfish’.
Disney-owned ABC took his show off air in response, while FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned the network its license could be at risk because of Kimmel’s content.
Jimmy Kimmel will poke fun at a ‘great year’ from a ‘fascism perspective’ when he delivers the Channel 4 Alternative Christmas Message
The chat show was pulled off air in September after accusing Trump and his allies of capitalising on Charlie Kirk’s murder
The US president later suggested that if any TV networks only give him bad press ‘maybe their licence should be taken away’.
It sparked backlash with some accusing the US administration of infringing on free speech and press freedom.
In his Christmas speech, an alternative to the monarch’s annual televised address, Kimmel will reflect on the events of the past year, sharing his own personal experiences and insights after being at the centre of one of the stories that rocked the US.
A Channel 4 spokesperson said: ‘Donald Trump’s return to the White House and wide-ranging impact on the world has been the story of 2025 and it would be hard to think of a better person to address it than Jimmy Kimmel, who has found himself on the front line of America’s battle over free speech.’
Kimmel’s wife and head writer, Molly McNearney, has previously admitted that she and her husband had thought his career was effectively over.
But his show has secured a one-year contract extension, which will keep him on air through until May 2027.
Channel 4’s annual broadcast, which first aired in 1993, aims to bring viewers a message about that year’s events.
Kimmel’s address follows on from previous messages delivered by a wide range of presenters, including comedian Chris McCausland who addressed ableism last year after becoming the first blind person to win Strictly Come Dancing.
Other presenters have included former president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, actor and TV presenter Sir Stephen Fry, whistleblower Edward Snowden, former speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, and actor Danny Dyer.
The Alternative Christmas Message will air on Channel 4 at 5.45pm on Christmas Day.