Jimmy Kimmel delivers tearful monologue reflecting on a “hard year” and political turmoil

Jimmy Kimmel became visibly emotional during a recent monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, opening up about what he described as one of the hardest years of his life and thanking viewers for standing by him during a turbulent time

The late-night host addressed his audience at the start of the show with tears in his eyes, reflecting on the personal and national strain of the past year. “This has been a strange year. It’s been a hard year,” Kimmel said. “We’ve had some lows, we’ve had some highs — for me, maybe more than any year in my life.”

Kimmel paused several times as he struggled to compose himself, emphasizing how much the audience’s continued support meant to him and his team. “On behalf of all of us on the show, I want to say that we appreciate your support, your enthusiasm — and not just for watching,” he told viewers. “You literally pulled us out of a hole, and we cannot thank you enough personally and professionally.”

The host went on to speak candidly about the emotional toll of the current political and cultural climate, including his long-running and very public criticism of former President Donald Trump. “You see so many awful and destructive acts, so much damage we inflict on ourselves on purpose,” Kimmel said. “It can make you crazy trying to wrap your head around things that are so clearly wrong.”

Despite the heaviness of the moment, Kimmel said messages from viewers who felt comforted or understood by the show helped keep him going. He described hearing from people who said the program made them feel less alone as one of the most meaningful aspects of his work.

Kimmel ended his monologue with a message directed not only at Americans, but at international viewers watching from abroad. “It’s important that we let our friends in other countries know that a lot of us are not okay with what is happening,” he said. “That there is still much more good in this country than bad — and we hope you’ll bear with us during this extended psychotic episode that we’re in the middle of.”

The emotional address quickly resonated online, with many praising Kimmel for his vulnerability and honesty. The moment underscored the increasingly blurred line between comedy, politics, and personal expression in late-night television — and highlighted how deeply the past year has affected both public figures and their audiences alike.