London, 26 December (H.S.): Jimmy Kimmel, the acerbic American late-night host, delivered Channel 4's annual Alternative Christmas Message—a satirical counterpoint to King Charles III's traditional address since 1993—lambasting U.S. President Donald Trump's second term as a banner year for fascism and tyranny during a four-minute broadcast aired at 17:45 GMT.

From a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year. Tyranny is booming over here, Kimmel quipped to British viewers, portraying Trump as a monarch-like figure eroding democratic pillars from free press and science to judicial independence and even the White House's East Wing demolition.

Channel 4 framed the slot, previously filled by figures like Edward Snowden and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as a thought-provoking reflection on a year dominated by U.S. political upheavals, with Kimmel urging the U.K. not to abandon its transatlantic ally amid America's wobble.

The pre-recorded address proceeded without technical hitches, drawing immediate backlash from conservatives decrying its partisan tone.

Kimmel wove in his September saga, when ABC indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! hours after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened affiliates over the host's monologue speculating that suspects in conservative activist Charlie Kirk's fatal shooting—perpetrated by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson charged with aggravated murder, gun crimes, and witness tampering—might align with Trump supporters seeking political capital from the tragedy.

Trump hailed the hiatus as great news for America, demanding firings of peers like Stephen Colbert, prompting Hollywood luminaries to rally for press freedoms; the show resumed within a week amid public outcry, allowing Kimmel nightly bollockings of the commander-in-chief.

A Christmas miracle happened... millions spoke up for free speech. We won, the president lost, he declared, cautioning that critic-silencing evokes Russia or North Korea, not just revolutionary-era divides.

Apologising for America's exported chaos—influencing U.K. discourse—Kimmel implored persistence in the special relationship, vowing democratic recovery: We'll come around.The message, blending humour with gravity, echoed Kimmel's decade-long Trump critiques, amplified post-reelection, as Channel 4 noted U.S. affairs' prominence in its 2025 programming.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar