Seth Meyers, the host of “Late Night,” voiced his support for fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after Kimmel’s suspension by ABC. Meyers also examined censorship and free speech during Donald Trump’s presidency. Kicking off Thursday’s show with humor, Meyers, known for his critical stance on Trump, jokingly expressed admiration for Trump, claiming that any previous negative remarks were due to AI.

Meyers went on to critique the Trump administration’s assertions of reinstating free speech, showcasing a montage of Trump boasting about this accomplishment. He followed this with news clips concerning ABC’s suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following Kimmel’s remarks about Republican responses to right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk’s murder. Meyers addressed the topics of censorship and free speech in the context of the Trump administration, asserting, “Trump vowed to eliminate government censorship and restore free speech, yet he’s doing the opposite.” He cautioned about a possible turn towards oppressive autocracy.

Meyers wrapped up by expressing solidarity with Kimmel and highlighted the significance of late-night shows in a democracy. “It’s an honor to count Jimmy Kimmel as my friend and to host this show every night. We inhabit a nation that cherishes freedom of speech, and we will carry on with our show passionately and with integrity. This is a pivotal time for democracy, and we must defend free expression. Free speech is included in the First Amendment for a reason; it is paramount.”