Jimmy Kimmel is pushing back after a joke about Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin sparked outrage among Republicans and drew the attention of Donald Trump. The late-night host also called out the hypocrisy of anyone in the MAGAverse taking offense to his punchlines.
Earlier this week, Kimmel joked about Mullin’s pre-politics career as a plumber, suggesting it wasn’t the typical job history one might expect for someone tasked with overseeing national security. Conservatives quickly pounced, accusing the late-night host of mocking blue-collar workers. President Donald Trump even referenced the controversy during a phone-in interview on Fox News, amplifying the backlash and bringing more attention to Kimmel's monologue.
Addressing the uproar during Thursday night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel said he’s well aware of the criticism coming from Trump and his allies. “The president and his pals in the MAGA media are not happy with me right now,” Kimmel said. “Trump even called in to Fox to complain about me tonight.”
Kimmel argued that his joke had been deliberately mischaracterized. The comedian claimed he never had a problem with plumbers. Instead, it was the specific title Mullin received despite the lack of relevant experience. “[Trump's] apple-polishers are in a tizzy because I made light of the fact that his new head of Homeland Security, before he was a senator, was a plumber… Which is not necessarily the kind of resume you might hope for, for the person in charge of protecting us from terrorism.”
He continued, “Of course, they decided to twist that to say it was an insult to plumbers, which it was not. I wouldn’t put a plumber in charge of Homeland Security for the same reason I wouldn’t call a five-star general to pull a rat out of my toilet, okay? We all have our areas of expertise.”
Kimmel wasn't done there, going the extra mile to hammer home his point. Republicans called the ABC host an elitist, but Kimmel says that's not the case. His issue is with Mullin succeeding Kristi Noem. “Let me make this very clear: I’m not upset that the head of Homeland Security used to be a plumber,” Kimmel said. “I’m upset that he isn’t still a plumber.”
Kimmel also highlighted what he sees as a double standard in the criticism, pointing to past Republican attacks on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her work as a bartender before entering politics. And like any good late-night TV host, Kimmel came with receipts.
“I distinctly remember some very serious concerns resume-wise when it came to a certain former bartender from New York…,” Kimmel noted before throwing to a montage of Republicans and right-wing figures mocking AOC's previous career. “On behalf of bartenders everywhere, we anxiously await your apology," Kimmel added. "You do the bartenders, I’ll do the plumbers, okay?”
The comedian did a pretty good job of exposing what he called "performative outrage." The entire "controversy" was also another example of how easily Kimmel can make headlines all by himself. Whether it's President Trump or other MAGA types, Jimmy Kimmel Live! clearly has a dedicated audience that's eager to provide feedback.