Whether he likes it or not, Jimmy Kimmel is tied to President Donald Trump. The late-night TV host's coverage of Trump has become a signature element of his show and what people expect from him.
Kimmel wasn't known for his political humor when his late-night TV career began. Instead, it was all about pranks and paling around with celebrity guests. That all changed when Donald Trump made his bid for the White House and eventually became president (twice).
Now, Kimmel is one of the loudest voices speaking out against President Trump. So much so, that the leader of the free world has complained about Kimmel by name and even gone so far as to ask Disney to put the brakes on the comedian.
"I think most comedians have a strong sense of justice, and [Trump] violates that so frequently," Kimmel told Rolling Stone. "I know we should be hardened to it by now, but I’m not. It is shocking to me; it seems like a comic-book villain. He seems like the kind of character that would flame out after a few years, but the fact that he’s still with us is remarkable."
Kimmel also explained he had a clear goal in mind while covering Trump night after night ahead of the 2024 election. The comedian hoped he could show people who weren't paying attention exactly what was going on. However, that warning failed to accomplish its goal.
"Obviously, that didn’t have enough impact before the election, so now I see myself more as a place to scream," Kimmel shared.
Hillary Clinton changed Jimmy Kimmel's perspective on Donald Trump
The comedian admitted that while he constantly jokes about Trump, he's been taking the president seriously since 2016. A comment from Hilary Rodham Clinton woke up Kimmel to a possible new reality.
"It was 2016, and I had Hillary Clinton on. I said to Hillary during a commercial break, 'I hope Trump gets the nomination. I think he’ll be a slam-dunk for you.' And she said, “Be careful what you wish for.” I’m not in the group of people who thought he might win," Kimmel revealed.
Kimmel's goal fell short, and his emotional response to Trump's 2024 victory proved just how much it weighed on him. Since then, Kimmel has not let up despite everyone knowing exactly who Donald Trump is at this point.
"On the Fourth of July, I still put up a flag, and I’m never going to stop doing that, because I’m never going to let them have that symbol. It’s not their flag; it is not a MAGA brand.