Jimmy Kimmel Reflects on Tumultuous 2025 and Critiques Trump's Primetime Speech
Jimmy Kimmel's final monologue of 2025 captured a year marked by upheaval and challenges, describing it as strange and hard with significant highs and lows. During the year, Kimmel faced significant hurdles including the brief suspension of his show under pressure from the Trump administration over censorship concerns. The death of his longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo added a personal loss to the year's difficulties, though Kimmel also secured a one-year contract extension with ABC. Thanking viewers for their support, he highlighted how their loyalty helped pull the show out of a difficult period, while emphasizing the demanding nature of late-night television work. Kimmel offered a sharp critique of former President Trump's primetime year-end address, characterizing the speech as loud, erratic, and filled with untruths, likening the delivery to a meltdown. He noted that many Americans turn to late-night shows for relief, hoping to feel less overwhelmed by the political climate, yet affirmed that despite current turmoil, there remains more good than bad in the country. Alongside Kimmel’s commentary, Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert contributed satirical and critical responses to Trump's speech, with Colbert particularly mocking both the performances and the White House's unusual request for a broadcast pre-emption. The White House's appeal to major networks to pre-empt their 9pm ET programming for Trump's address underscored the speech's status as a rare national broadcast event. During the address, Trump made broad claims of national revival, disputed border controversies, and criticized Democrats' stances on health premiums, contributing to the wider media scrutiny and debate surrounding the event.
