Jimmy Kimmel Returned To ‘Live’ Last Night As Donald Trump Threatened More Government Crackdowns: “A True Bunch Of Losers!”

Jimmy Kimmel made a triumphant return to Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC while President Trump raged against the network for allowing the late night comedian back on the air.

Kimmel could not avoid the elephant in the room during his opening monologue as he was met with chants and cheers.

“I’m not sure who had a weirder 48 hours: me or the CEO of Tylenol. It’s been overwhelming,” he joked.

Kimmel appeared close to tears during his monologue as he went on to thank his allies who spoke out in support of him which included, even more surprisingly, a slew of conservatives who defended his right to free speech.

“I feel honored to be a part of the group of people that knows what goes into doing a show like this. I also want to thank all of you,” he said. “Who supported our show, cared enough to do something about it, to make your voices heard so that mine will be heard. I will never forget it.”

He added, “And maybe weirdly, maybe maybe most of all, I want to thank the people who don’t support my show and what I believe, but support my right to share those beliefs anyway. People who I never would have imagined like Ben Shapiro, Clay Travis, Candace Owens, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, even my old pal Ted Cruz.”

Just ahead of Kimmel’s return to the network, President Trump slammed ABC for reviving Kimmel’s show and even threatened to take legal action against the network.

“I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled!” Trump wrote on TruthSocial. “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.”

He then wrote, “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.”

Kimmel later clarified the controversial statements he made about the late Charlie Kirk on Live Monday, Sept. 15, in which he claimed the “MAGA gang” was “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

During his monologue Tuesday, Kimmel said, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.” He added that he could understand if the joke “felt either ill-timed or unclear,” though he did not apologize.

However, Kimmel did take aim at FCC chair Brendan Carr in a skit featuring a very threatening Robert De Niro, who got quite angry when Kimmel suggested the FCC was “using mob tactics to suppress free speech.”

Scroll up to watch Kimmel’s opening monologue.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs on weeknights at 11:35/10:35c on ABC.