Jimmy Kimmel Returns to His Show, 'Apologizes' for Controversial Health Care Push
He was back on the air Monday after a week-long absence.
Jimmy Kimmel took his critics to task Monday night as he returned to TV a week after revealing his baby son underwent life-saving heart surgery.
Read: After Emotional Plea About Son's Heart Condition, Has Jimmy Kimmel Saved Obamacare?
"Our son, Billy, is doing very well," the host said. “He's smiling because so many people donated to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Either that, or he has gas. We don't know.”
He wasted no time joking about the reaction to his impassioned remarks last week about his son and his criticism of the Trump administration's health care proposal.
“One week ago tonight, I made an emotional speech a result of my powerful words on that night Republicans in congress had second thoughts about repeal and replace. They realized that what is right is right. And I saved health insurance in the United States of America. Thank you,” he claimed. “I didn't? I didn't save it? They voted against it anyway?”
As the crowd laughed, Kimmel had a sarcastic apology to his critics.
“I would like to apologize for saying that children in America should have health care. It was insensitive,” he said. “It was offensive, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
On Monday, May 1, after revealing his son Williams' diagnosis, Kimmel made a direct appeal to lawmakers on his show to save the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, just as President Trump and Republicans in Congress are once again attempting to round up the votes to repeal and replace it.
“If your baby is going to die, and it doesn’t have to, it shouldn’t matter how much money you make," he said.
"I think that’s something that, whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat or something else, we all agree on that, right?"
Read: Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Down as He Reveals Infant Son's Heart Condition
He then discussed health care and how Affordable Care Act rollbacks could affect kids like his.
“This isn’t football," he said. "There are no teams. We are the team, it’s the United States. Don’t let their partisan squabbles divide us on something every decent person wants."
His remarks even got the attention of President Obama, who tweeted, “Well said, Jimmy. That's exactly why we fought so hard for the ACA, and why we need to protect it for kids like Billy.”