Jimmy Kimmel said through tears it was “never my intention” to make fun of Charlie Kirk’s death, as his late-night show returned to TV.

The talk show host, whose voice repeatedly broke in his opening monologue, also hit out at Donald Trump whom he accused of an illegal and “authoritarian” attempt to pull him off the air.

The US president, in comments made before Kimmel’s show was broadcast on Tuesday night, appeared to suggest he would sue ABC for allowing the comedian to return from his brief cancellation.

Kimmel was given a minute-long standing ovation by his audience as he walked into the studio, six days after the network announced he had been indefinitely suspended for controversial comments about the murder of 31-year-old Kirk.