Jimmy Kimmel did not make remarks directly about Charlie Kirk himself, but rather about how conservative figures (especially Donald Trump and the MAGA movement) responded after Kirk’s killing in September 2025.

What Kimmel Actually Said

In his late-night monologue on September 16, 2025, Kimmel focused on the political reaction to Kirk’s assassination, not on Kirk personally. He said that the “MAGA gang” was:

  • Desperately trying to portray the young man who killed Kirk as not one of them, even though the killer had far–right views and aligned with that movement.
  • Working hard to “score political points” from the tragedy and “capitalise on the murder,” rather than genuinely mourning.

He then showed a clip of Donald Trump, who had been asked two days after the shooting how he was holding up; Trump replied he was doing “very good,” then quickly pivoted to talk about the White House’s new ballroom construction.

Kimmel’s punchline was:

“He’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four‑year‑old mourns a goldfish.”

He also criticized Vice President JD Vance for claiming that “most of the lunatics in American politics today are proud members of the far left,” calling that “complete bull****” given the shooter’s own ideology.

How Kimmel Clarified His Remarks

When ABC temporarily suspended his show in response to the backlash, Kimmel returned and explained that his comments were not meant to make light of Kirk’s murder or to blame any one political group for the killer’s actions.

Key points from his follow‑up:

  • He had posted on Instagram right after the shooting, sending “love” to Kirk’s family and asking for compassion.
  • He stressed that he never thought there was anything funny about the murder of a young man and that it was never his intention to make light of Kirk’s death.
  • He acknowledged that, in the heat of the moment, his remarks came across as ill‑timed or unclear, and that he understood why some people took them that way.

Why It Became Controversial

Kimmel’s monologue was widely interpreted (especially by conservative media and Trump allies) as a broader attack on the MAGA movement’s response, not on Kirk personally.

  • Donald Trump called Kimmel “not a talented person” and said he had “very bad ratings,” claiming ABC was right to suspend him.
  • Some ABC affiliates briefly pulled Kimmel’s show, which Kimmel later described as “un‑American” on air.
  • The incident sparked debate about late‑night comedy, political violence, and whether comedians should touch on very recent tragedies.

TL;DR

Kimmel didn’t make a direct joke about Charlie Kirk himself; instead, he mocked how Trump and MAGA figures reacted to Kirk’s killing, saying Trump’s priority seemed to be new construction and “this is how a four‑year‑old mourns a goldfish”. He later clarified that he never meant to make light of Kirk’s death, only to criticize the political exploitation of the tragedy.