WATCH: Jimmy Kimmel’s First Words On Air Since Blockbuster Charlie Kirk Suspension — Chokes Up About Kirk

Millions watched as late-night host Jimmy Kimmel opened his first show since President Donald Trump’s administration pressured ABC to suspend him over the Charlie Kirk shooting.

The media world was shaken last Wednesday night by the news that ABC had suspended Kimmel’s show “indefinitely,” just hours after he was targeted by Brendan Carr, President Trump’s hand-picked FCC commissioner.

Kimmel was singled out for a comment he made during a monologue on last Monday’s edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live!:

JIMMY KIMMEL: We hit some new lows over the weekend, with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.

The move drew fierce backlash from all quarters, even as President Trump and his allies openly celebrated the suspension — and looked for more. Fellow late-night hosts and other media figures rallied around Kimmel, and reports of mass cancellations of Disney+ subscriptions circulated.

But ABC announced this Monday that Kimmel’s show would return Tuesday night, although major affiliate owners Sinclair Broadcasting and Nextstar have said they will not air the show.

Minutes before Kimmel was set to return, Trump posted a rant threatening ABC on Truth Social, writing:

Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his “talent” was never there. Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE. He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings.

Thus the table was set for Tuesday’s edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live, during which the host came out to a thunderous ovation to deliver his first monologue since being forced off the air.

Kimmel began by thanking everyone for their support, then choked up when he reiterated his horror at Kirk’s killing:

I’ve been hearing a lot about what I need to say and do tonight, and the truth is, I don’t think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference if you like me, you like me, if you don’t, you don’t. I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind.

But I want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human, and that is — you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.

[ applause ]

I don’t — I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed sending love to his family and asking for compassion and I meant it. And I still do.

Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions — it was a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but to some, that felt ill timed or unclear or maybe both, and for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset.

If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I would have felt the same way. I have many friends and family members on the other side who I love and remain close to, even though we don’t agree on politics at all. I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone, this was a sick person who believed violence was a solution, and it isn’t. It — ever.

Watch above via ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live.