Jimmy Kimmel Takes Swipe At President Trump After Standing Ovation At 2026 Critics Choice Awards

Jimmy Kimmel didn’t hold back at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. The late-night host received a standing ovation after winning Best Talk Show honors at the Jan. 4 ceremony in Los Angeles, and he wasted no time in dropping a punchline President Donald Trump’s way. “A FIFA Peace Prize would have been better, but this is nice too,” Kimmel quipped, referencing the inaugural award presented to Trump at a World Cup event weeks earlier. Kimmel went on to round out his speech with a more direct shoutout to the commander-in-chief. “And most of all, I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we would be going home empty-handed tonight,” the comedian said, noting that Trump has provided continued material for him and the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” writing staff throughout his term. Kimmel’s win comes on the heels of his temporary suspension following on-air comments he made after Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September. The situation sparked massive debate about free speech and Kimmel appeared to subtly acknowledge the aftermath in his remarks.