Jimmy Kimmel marked his final episode of the week with his traditional Thanksgiving reflection, sharing what he is most thankful for during the Tuesday, Nov. 25 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. As is customary for him each year, his holiday message blended humor, cultural commentary, and tongue-in-cheek political jabs — especially toward former President Donald Trump, who has become a staple target in Kimmel’s monologues. This year, his expression of gratitude was both unexpected and oddly relatable for many viewers.
Kimmel opened the monologue by declaring that he was most thankful for one simple fact: there were only five weeks left in the year. Though meant as a joke, it resonated with audiences who felt that 2025 had been unusually long, chaotic, or draining — especially the late summer and early fall months. Kimmel’s comment captured that universal feeling of exhaustion at the tail end of a turbulent year, and his delivery made it clear that he was not alone in feeling relieved that the calendar was winding down.
After sharing his moment of gratitude, Kimmel turned toward his longtime on-air sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez. When Kimmel asked what Guillermo was most thankful for, Guillermo responded sincerely: he was grateful for his family. It was a rare heartfelt moment in an otherwise comedic monologue and served as a warm contrast to Kimmel’s humor. Guillermo then added a detail that allowed Kimmel to steer the conversation back into comedy: he confessed he would be eating chicken instead of turkey for Thanksgiving. This revelation became the perfect segue into the monologue’s main comedic topic — the annual presidential turkey pardoning ceremony.
From there, Kimmel dove headfirst into political satire, something he has consistently embraced throughout his career. This year, however, his commentary carried an added layer of defiance. Ever since his temporary suspension from the show in September — a situation widely reported as having been influenced by Donald Trump — Kimmel has seemed determined to push back even harder, leaning fully into his First Amendment rights.
At the time of his suspension, many viewers and media outlets questioned what it meant for free speech in America. Trump’s alleged involvement in that suspension sparked debates about whether political pressure had crossed into the entertainment sphere in an unprecedented way. Although Kimmel eventually returned to air, the controversy cast a long shadow, and some fans speculated that Kimmel’s sharper tone in recent months has been a deliberate response to that ordeal. During this Thanksgiving monologue, that defiance was unmistakable.
When discussing Trump’s turkey pardoning, Kimmel pointed out how the tradition — usually a lighthearted, apolitical ceremony involving a few tame jokes — had become yet another political spectacle. Instead of sticking to the usual script, Trump used the occasion to brag about “all the wars he’s ending” and to insert additional political grandstanding into what is normally a harmless holiday ritual. Kimmel highlighted the absurdity of this by contrasting Trump’s behavior with past presidents, all of whom treated the event as a brief comedic interlude rather than a campaign platform.
Kimmel then played a CGI-enhanced bit in which one of the pardoned turkeys appeared to slip Trump money to secure its freedom — an exaggerated and sarcastic jab at Trump’s reputation and political controversies. The visual gag brought laughter from the audience, offering a humorous break from the more pointed commentary.
The monologue continued with another sharp comedic pivot when Kimmel addressed the recent news that Paramount was moving forward with Rush Hour 4. Kimmel humorously connected the long-awaited sequel to Trump as well, joking that the decision to revive the franchise was made at Trump’s request. This allowed him to weave another absurdist storyline into his criticism, merging Hollywood news with political satire in a way that has become a trademark of his monologues.
Over the years, Kimmel has used his platform to blend social commentary with satire, and his Thanksgiving tradition is no exception. Although the holiday is often associated with gratitude and positivity, Kimmel used the opportunity to reflect on the past year through a humorous lens that still acknowledged the frustrations and challenges Americans have faced. His comments about the remaining five weeks of the year echoed a widespread sense of fatigue, while Guillermo’s heartfelt expression of family gratitude grounded the monologue in sincerity.
Still, the specter of Kimmel’s suspension loomed over the episode. Even though he did not directly address the incident in detail, his continued targeting of Trump and his refusal to soften his commentary made it clear that he had no intention of backing down. In a way, the monologue served as an indirect reaffirmation of his commitment to speaking openly, even in the face of political scrutiny.
Kimmel’s decision to highlight the turkey pardoning ceremony also reinforced his broader argument: that even the most harmless traditions can become distorted when filtered through partisan spectacle. His CGI gag of the turkey bribing Trump further underscored how political theatrics had overshadowed what was once an innocent holiday custom.
After wrapping up the political segment, Kimmel gradually shifted into a lighter tone, commenting on the upcoming holiday season, the entertainment industry’s latest news, and his usual comedic observations about current events. But the underlying message of the monologue — a mix of gratitude, frustration, satire, and resilience — lingered throughout.
As he closed the episode, Kimmel reminded viewers that it would be the last new episode before Thanksgiving break. His sign-off carried a familiar warmth: gratitude for his audience, appreciation for his team, and a touch of humor about surviving the rest of the year. Whether viewers tuned in for the comedy, the commentary, or simply for the comfort of a familiar voice, Kimmel delivered an episode that encapsulated the spirit of his show — witty, reflective, provocative, and unmistakably him.
The final monologue of the week therefore stood not only as a Thanksgiving tradition, but also as a snapshot of where Kimmel stands at the end of 2025: still sharp, still outspoken, and still unwilling to let political pressure stifle his comedic voice. For many viewers, that honesty — even when disguised in humor — is something to be thankful for.