According to Deadline, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Man Show) used his appearance on Channel 4’s Alternative Christmas Message to deliver a pointed political monologue aimed squarely President Donald Trump (The Apprentice, Trump: An American Dream). Although the address was broadcast to a British audience on Christmas Day, Kimmel made it clear that his real focus was the political climate back home in the United States.

As Deadline reports, Kimmel referenced the backlash surrounding his brief suspension from ABC earlier this year following a controversial monologue involving conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Kimmel described the public response to the suspension as a “miracle” for free expression, arguing that widespread support forced the network to reverse course. “Our show came back stronger than ever,” Kimmel said, adding, “We won, the President lost,” a line that drew immediate attention for its defiant tone, per Deadline.

According to Deadline, Kimmel used humor and sharp satire to warn viewers about what he characterized as the rapid erosion of democratic norms. Addressing the UK audience directly, he suggested that political repression often feels distant until it arrives unexpectedly. Kimmel joked that Americans famously rejected having a king, before dubbing Trump “King Donny the Eighth,” warning that authoritarian behavior can escalate quickly if left unchecked.

As Deadline details, Kimmel went on to apologize to international viewers for what he described as the United States “tearing down” democratic institutions, citing attacks on the press, science, medicine, and judicial independence. He emphasized that Trump does not represent all Americans and urged viewers abroad not to lose faith in the country, ending his message with a note of cautious optimism that the nation would eventually recover.

Per Deadline, Channel 4’s Alternative Christmas Message has been a long-running tradition for more than three decades, airing after the British monarch’s annual address. Past contributors have included Stephen Fry (V for Vendetta, Blackadder), Danny Dyer (EastEnders, The Football Factory), and even a deepfake version of Queen Elizabeth II (The Crown, A Christmas Message). Kimmel’s appearance marked one of the most overtly political installments in the tradition’s history.