Jimmy Kimmel’s show drew its biggest audience in a decade on Tuesday, with more than 6.2 million viewers tuning in for his return after a suspension over comments about Charlie Kirk’s killing.

Kimmel’s tearful opening monologue on Tuesday night was also a hit on social media, achieving 26 million views in the hours after clips of the show were shared across all major platforms.

In it, the late-night show host aired video of Donald Trump speaking from Air Force One, saying that Kimmel has “no talent” and “no ratings”.

“Well, I do tonight!” said the host, as the studio audience stood in applause. “You almost have to feel sorry for him.”

Kimmel went on to say that it was “never my intention” to make fun of the death of Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative firebrand who was shot dead while speaking at a Utah university.