Odds On When Jimmy Kimmel Live Will Be Axed And Which Show Is Next On Donald Trump's Hitlist

_{Jimmy Kimmel and Donald Trump are at the center of fresh controversy. (Image: Image Press Agency/Alamy Live News)}

Jimmy Kimmel has returned to his late-night talk show after a week-long suspension, but could it be a short-lived comeback? The comedian was forced off air by TV network ABC due to comments he made following the death of Charlie Kirk.

US President Donald Trump celebrated the news of Jimmy Kimmel Live! being pulled by ABC, blasting the host as having "zero talent" and writing on his Truth Social platform: "Great News for America: The ratings-challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED.

"Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done."

However, Trump appeared to be furious when Jimmy Kimmel Live! was reinstated, and the show returned on Tuesday, September 23rd. This latest feud adds to Trump’s long history of sparring with entertainers and musicians.

Kimmel to Go Off Air Again?

The President took aim at Kimmel and vowed to "test ABC out on this."

Trump wrote on his Truth Social: "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! 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. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad ratings."

Kimmel made a triumphant return on Tuesday, with the show hitting a 10-year ratings high among adult viewers, according to the network.

In his opening monologue, which has since been viewed more than 21 million times on YouTube, the comedian insisted it was "never his intention to make light" of Kirk's death.

He also spoke out about Trump, saying people "almost have to feel sorry" for him", adding, "He tried his best to cancel me.

"Instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show."

And in his second episode back on Wednesday night, he called out Trump again, saying, "You can’t believe they gave me my job back? I can’t believe they gave you your job back! We’re even."

He also said Trump was trying to "prove he wasn’t threatening ABC by threatening ABC" and predicted the President will "try to sue us" next.

But could Trump have the last laugh over the comedian?

Often considered the most powerful person on Earth, it wouldn't be a surprise if Trump got his way, or if Kimmel went a step too far with his fun poking and was forced off air again.

It's 2/1 favourite for Jimmy Kimmel Live! to be axed at some point this year and 9/4 for the programme to be shelved next year.

While ABC looks set to come under pressure from Trump in the coming weeks, they clearly had a ratings hit on their hands with the show's comeback.

If they can hold off the initial heat from the President, then the show could continue to run for years to come.

It's 5/1 for the programme to make it to 2028, or later, but it's an 8/1 long shot that Jimmy Kimmel Live! is never axed and instead ends when the comedian hangs up his suit.

Kimmel's Comeback Show

If Jimmy Kimmel Live! is shelved in the near future, then the comedian will have to find something else to do.

One way of sticking around on TV would be to front a brand-new show, which is just 1/1 to happen if his ABC series is ended.

As his comeback episode shows, there is clearly a big audience for Kimmel's work, so going again on a different network, or even via his own social channels, could prove successful for Kimmel.

He is also just 2/1 to return as the host of the Primetime Emmy Awards next year.

Kimmel has hosted the ceremony three times, in 2012, 2016 and 2020, and he has also fronted the Academy Awards four times.

Jimmy's fellow comedian and talk show host Conan O'Brien is already booked to present the Oscars in 2026, and Kimmel is an 8/1 outsider to land the gig in 2027.What's more, the talk show host, whose mother is of Italian descent, obtained Italian citizenship earlier this year, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he upped sticks and moved far away from Trump to Italy (3/1) if his programme was given the boot.

Or, he could follow in the footsteps of fellow US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who quit the US for the UK's beautiful Cotswolds countryside in 2024. Ellen recently confirmed she relocated to England because of Trump's re-election as president.

Kimmel is 6/1 to move to the UK, and he is a 10/1 long shot to retire if his show is binned. While that seems unlikely, it appears to have more potential than him running for US President (50/1). 

Trump's Next Target

The current US President isn't going anywhere for now, though.

And neither is his Truth Social account, which he has used to bash Kimmel and his show, among others.

But which programme is next on his hit list?

While celebrating the news of Kimmel's series being pulled by ABC, Trump blasted Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers as "two total losers on Fake News NBC" and urged the network to take their shows, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers, off air.

It is 10/11 for Trump to take aim at Fallon's series next, and just 1/1 he blasts Meyers' show on Truth Social.

During his Kimmel victory jig, the President also slammed The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (6/4), saying Kimmel's show had "worse ratings even than Colbert, if that's possible."

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert is ending in May 2026 after 33 years, and CBS is retiring the Late Show franchise.

In the latter stages of the show's reign, Colbert may think he has nothing to lose by going up against Trump for a final time, which could spark a reaction from The Donald.  

Several of America's late-night TV hosts showed their support for Kimmel when ABC suspended his programme, so they are likely Trump targets.

The Daily Show usually only airs on Mondays, but after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live!, host Jon Stewart presented a one-off Thursday broadcast, in which he mocked Trump.

He jokingly said at the beginning of the episode, "We have another fun, hilarious, administration-compliant show."

The Daily Show is 2/1 to be next on Trump's hit list, and he certainly has plenty of beef with America's late-night TV shows.

Trump recently told reporters, "I have read someplace that the networks were 97 percent against me—again, 97 percent negative—and yet I won and easily [in last year's election].

"They give me only bad publicity [and] press. I mean, they're getting a licence. I would think maybe their licence should be taken away."