On September 24, 2025,‍ late-night host Jimmy Kimmel directly addressed former President Donald Trump’s recent calls for his dismissal from ABC following a monologue perceived as critical of Trump and his allies. The exchange stemmed from comments Kimmel made in response too a speech delivered by ‍Erika Kirk,widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk,at a memorial service organized by Turning Point USA.

The Context: Charlie Kirk’s Memorial and Erika Kirk’s Speech

Charlie Kirk,⁢ the founder of Turning Point USA, died unexpectedly on September 18, 2025. His memorial service, held on September 21,⁣ 2025, ⁤was attended by prominent figures including Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance. Erika Kirk’s speech at⁣ the service reportedly focused on her husband’s dedication to conservative principles and criticized those she⁤ perceived as attacking his legacy. Details of the speech, as reported by The New⁢ York Times,included veiled references to⁣ media personalities who had been critical of Turning Point USA.

Kimmel’s Response and Trump’s ‍reaction

Jimmy Kimmel addressed the ⁣situation during‍ his September 24th monologue on *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*. While the exact wording of Kimmel’s comments has not been officially released by ABC, ‍reports ⁣indicate he responded to Erika Kirk’s speech wiht satirical ‍remarks.These remarks were⁤ interpreted by Trump as disrespectful and prompted the former president to publicly ⁤call‍ for Kimmel’s firing. Trump reportedly stated, according ⁢to Reuters, that Kimmel and those working with him should⁢ be “fired from‍ thier jobs.”

Kimmel, acknowledging the situation ‍on air,⁢ stated, “We ⁢talked it through, and, at ‍the ⁣end, even though they didn’t have to…