'Donald Jennifer Trump': Jimmy Kimmel trolls president in Critics Choice win speech, says 'thank you for all ridiculous things'

Late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel thanked "Donald Jennifer Trump" after winning the Critics Choice Award for best talk show.

While giving his acceptance speech at the stage, Kimmel thanked the US President for all the "many ridiculous things you do each and every day."





Trump, 79, slammed Kimmel on Truth Social all of last year, questioning his talent and ratings, and calling him a “bum” who should be taken off air. Trump also remained a regular fixture in Kimmel’s monologues.

Their feud turned nuclear in September when Jimmy Kimmel Live! was briefly suspended after the Trump-appointed FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, threatened to revoke ABC’s broadcasting licence if Kimmel was not held accountable for comments about the MAGA reaction to the death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

After the show returned to air, Kimmel broke viewing records on YouTube and scored his second-highest TV ratings ever. “We couldn’t have done it without you, Mr President, so thank you very much,” the talk show host said at the time.

At the Critics Choice Awards, Kimmel gave Trump a back-handed compliment and a new middle name that is not his actual given one, ‘John’.

“And most of all, I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we would be going home empty-handed tonight,” Kimmel, 58, said.



“So thank you, Mr. President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day. It’s been a banner couple of weeks, and we can’t wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them.”

Kimmel attended the Critics Choice Awards with wife Molly McNearney, and said he would not have won without Trump’s attacks. He also used the first entertainment industry award show of 2026 to celebrate those in the industry who supported him and his show after the FCC’s intervention, The Daily Beast reported.

“Thanks to all the writers and actors and producers and union members. Many of you were in this room who supported us, who really stepped forward with us, and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or in this country,” the host said on stage.

“Your actions are important, and we appreciate them.”

Kimmel beat out The Daily Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and YouTube’s Hot Ones for Best Talk Show. It was the show’s 10th nomination and second win, following a victory in 2018.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! returns on Monday with guest Ben Affleck.

Kimmel’s latest comments followed his appearance on British broadcaster Channel 4’s annual Alternative Christmas Message, where he said the president is “the guy who thinks he is our king.”

He said, “From a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year. Tyranny is booming over here.”