By Charlie McCarthy | Thursday, 09 October 2025 08:41 AM EDT
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel expressed a desire to have Donald Trump as a guest on his show, stating he would ask the president to appear. The comments were made during an interview with Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw following Kimmel’s return to television after a weeklong suspension.
The comedian’s comeback came after ABC and its affiliates temporarily removed “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from airwaves amid controversy over remarks he made about conservative leader Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Kimmel described his previous statements as “maliciously mischaracterized,” attributing the challenges of separating comedy from current events in today’s politically charged climate.
” He’s on TV all day, every day,” Kimmel said of Trump. “He gives us [the media] a lot to use. … I’d love to have Trump on the show, for sure. Alright, I’ll ask him.”
The invitation occurs amid tensions between Kimmel and the president. Last month, Trump praised the host’s brief removal from ABC, claiming Kimmel had been fired for “lack of talent.” When Disney-owned ABC reinstated Kimmel after “thoughtful conversations,” Trump criticized the decision, alleging the White House was informed of his show’s cancellation.
ABC suspended Kimmel on Sept. 17 following pressure from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr and backlash from affiliates, including the Sinclair Broadcast Group, which condemned his remarks. Viewers in major markets such as Washington, D.C., and Seattle lost access to the show during the blackout, igniting discussions about political influence over network programming and free speech limits.
On his return Sept. 23, Kimmel directly addressed the controversy, stating it was “never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.” However, his apology drew anger from conservative figures and Kirk’s associates, who labeled it “fake.” Actor James Woods accused Kimmel’s rhetoric of fostering hostility toward conservatives.
