Jimmy Kimmel Roasts Trump in Critics Choice Awards Speech
At the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, Jimmy Kimmel accepted the ‘Best Talk Show’ honor with a speech that blended sharp humor and gratitude, taking aim at Donald Trump and reflecting on a turbulent year in television.
The Critics Choice Awards ceremony in Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar was filled with memorable moments, but Jimmy Kimmel’s acceptance for ‘Best Talk Show’ stood out for its mix of wit and candor. As he took the stage, Kimmel didn’t miss the chance to poke fun at Donald Trump, weaving pointed jokes into his thank-yous and reflecting on a year that was anything but ordinary for late-night television.
It was a big night for film and TV alike. Timothée Chalamet clinched ‘Best Actor ’ for his role in Marty Supreme, while Jessie Hamnet earned ‘Best Actress’ for Hamnet. The top honor of ‘Best Picture’ went to One Battle After Another, and Paul Thomas Anderson was recognized as ‘Best Director ’. Amid these wins, Kimmel’s show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was named ‘Best Talk Show’, beating out tough competition from The Daily Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, and Hot Ones.
Spotlight on Kimmel’s Tumultuous Year
This past year has been a whirlwind for Kimmel. Back in September, he was temporarily pulled off the air after making remarks about the response to Charlie Kirk’s death—a move that President Donald Trump publicly celebrated. Trump has repeatedly called for Kimmel’s firing by ABC’s parent company, Disney, making their feud a recurring headline.
During his speech, Kimmel couldn’t resist referencing his longtime adversary.
“FIFA Peace Prize would have been better, but this is nice too.”
He then thanked his colleagues at ABC before turning his attention to Sam Altman, the founder of ChatGPT, alluding to Disney’s recent partnership with OpenAI. Kimmel joked,
“now owns my voice and face. Please don’t do anything weird with it.”
Gratitude and a Final Jab
Kimmel made sure to acknowledge the people behind the scenes who supported him through a challenging year. He expressed appreciation for the writers, actors, producers, and union members who stood by the show, 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.”
He added,
“Your actions are important, and we appreciate them.”
Before leaving the stage, Kimmel delivered one last quip aimed at Trump, thanking him for the endless material he provides for the show.
“Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we would be going home empty handed tonight.”