US chat show host Jimmy Kimmel has just delivered Channel 4's 2025 Alternative Christmas Message.
The channel’s annual broadcast, which first aired in 1993, aims to bring viewers a message about that year’s events, and in the address, which comes a few hours after King Charles' Christmas speech, the 58-year-old comedian told audiences that it had been a 'great year' from 'a fascism perspective'.
For context, Kimmel was taken off the air and suspended indefinitely back in September following comments he made on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the murder of right-wing campaigner Charlie Kirk, an ally of US President Donald Trump.
Trump later suggested that if any TV networks only give him bad press 'maybe their licence should be taken away'.
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The suspension was met with criticism from the public, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and political figures towards the US administration for infringing on their freedom of speech and free press, leading to Kimmel’s return five days later.
Now, in today's speech (25 December), an alternative to the monarch’s annual televised address, Kimmel began by saying: "From a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year."
He went on to reflect on the events of the past year, sharing his personal experiences and insights after being at the centre of one of the stories that shocked the US and its foundational democratic values.
Kimmel dubbed Trump 'King Donny the Eighth' and said he is 'calling for executions', urging Brits to not 'give up on us' and said America was having a 'little wobble' but to be patient and things would work out in the years to come.
"I do know what’s going on over here, though, and I can tell you that, from a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year. Tyranny is booming over here," he began. "You may have read in your colourful newspapers, my country’s President would like to shut me up because I don’t adore him in the way he likes to be adored.
"The American government made a threat against me and the company I work for, and all of a sudden we were off the air. But then, you know what happened? A Christmas miracle happened. Well, it was September, it was a September miracle. But the holiday does seem to come earlier and earlier every year, doesn’t it?
"Millions and millions of people stood up and said: 'No, this is not acceptable'. People who never watched my show, people who were on record saying they hate my show, spoke out, they marched, they did this all to support the right to a free expression of speech and because so many people spoke out, we came back."
Kimmel continued: "Our show came back stronger than ever. We won, the President lost, and now I’m back on the air every night givin’ the most powerful politician on earth a right and richly deserved b******ing. That’s a word, right, I used it properly?
"And the reason I’m telling you this story is because maybe you’re thinking: ‘Oh, a government silencing its critics is something that happens in places like Russia, or North Korea, or LA, not the UK’. Well, that’s what we thought, and now we’ve got King Donny the Eighth calling for executions. It happens fast."
He went on to say that the US is 'both figuratively and literally tearing down the structures of our democracy', from 'free press, to science, to medicine, to judicial independence, to the actual White House itself', adding: "We are a right mess. And we know this is also affecting you, and I just wanted to say sorry.
"And we want you to know or, at least I want you to know, that we’re not all like him. We’re not all like that.”
Rounding off, the talk show host concluded: "We are not bright. We’re Americans. No one knows better than you we’re always just a little bit late to the game, but do we come through in the end? Maybe. Give us about three years. Please. Thank you for your patience, and thank you for Spider-Man. Merry Christmas, and happy holidays."
Speaking of this year's message, 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."
Topics: TV And Film, Politics, US News, News, Christmas, Jimmy Kimmel, Donald Trump, Channel 4
Rhiannon Ingle