Jimmy Kimmel made his return to late-night television on Tuesday, welcomed by enthusiastic applause and chants from his audience. Referring to recent happenings as “overwhelming,” Kimmel noted that “everyone [he] knows has reached out ten or 11 times,” acknowledging fellow hosts like John Stewart, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Stephen Colbert.

ABC had taken Kimmel off the air the previous Wednesday, seemingly under pressure from the Trump administration. FCC chairman Brendan Carr had threatened ABC’s broadcasting license shortly before the announcement, opposing Kimmel’s remarks regarding Republicans’ responses to right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk’s death. While President Donald Trump and his supporters expressed pleasure at Kimmel’s suspension, many others condemned the decision, worrying about free speech implications.

In his comeback monologue, Kimmel expressed gratitude to his audience for their backing and for protesting his suspension, as well as to those who, despite differing views, defended his right to voice them. He referenced several right-wing personalities, including Ben Shapiro, Candace Owens, and Ted Cruz, who had criticized the administration’s actions.

“Even if I don’t concur with many of those individuals on various topics, some of their remarks even make me feel nauseous, it takes bravery for them to stand against this administration, and they did, and they should be acknowledged for it and thanked,” Kimmel remarked.

Kimmel addressed the statements he made about Kirk’s death that resulted in his suspension. He emphasized that he never aimed to trivialize the murder and extended his condolences to Kirk’s family. He also clarified that he did not mean to hold any particular group accountable for the actions of a disturbed individual.

“I don’t believe the person who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone. This was a disturbed individual who thought violence was a solution, and it never is,” Kimmel stated.

Kimmel proceeded to talk about the free speech issues that emerged after ABC removed him from the air, highlighting the significance of the ability to criticize those in power.

“This show is not what matters,” Kimmel remarked. “What matters is that we live in a country that permits us to have a show like this…. Our right to express ourselves is what [talk show hosts in other nations] admire most about this country. And that’s something I’m ashamed to admit I took for granted until they pulled my friend Stephen [Colbert] off the air, and attempted to pressure the affiliates who run our show in the cities where you reside to take my show off the air.

“That’s illegal. That’s un-American. That is un-American, and it is extremely perilous.”