Jimmy Kimmel doesn't hold back when it comes to covering Donald Trump. And the late-night TV host took the same approach when trying to explain how exactly Trump has won two presidential elections.
Kimmel has spent years criticizing President Trump, making in a major selling point of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and its success. While Kimmel's monologues often take a liberal perspective to Trump, it's that same perspective that helped put Trump in power. At least, that's according to Kimmel.
On the topic of cancel culture and what is acceptable in today's comedy, Kimmel gave Rolling Stone a revealing answer. “I don’t put limits on what I laugh at. But for me personally, as I’ve grown older, as I’ve matured, I won’t make a joke that I wouldn’t make if a person of that color or persuasion was in the room. That’s how I look at it.”
But Kimmel also called out what he perceives as performative outrage and swing too far toward political correctness. "I think a lot of the outrage is completely manufactured, and it’s like, a lot of these people who are angry aren’t really angry," Kimmel said. "I think these liberals who’ve done such a good job of viciously attacking comedians are a big part of the reason why Trump is the president right now."
Kimmel appears critique the very side he often defends, suggesting that cancel culture and public shaming have alienated Americans who then turned to Trump as a form of backlash.
Jimmy Kimmel doesn't believe in canceling anybody
The late-night TV host went on to argue no one should tell someone else what's funny or that they shouldn't laugh at a joke. "There’s no black and white when it comes to comedy. There is no line. The line is different for every person. Dave Chappelle can say things that somebody else might not be able to. I don’t think anybody should be canceled. I really don’t."
Of course, Kimmel's monologues have called out countless celebrities and politicians for their actions. Kanye West, Elon Musk, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and others have all been Kimmel's targets. Yet the host doesn't sound like he'd call what he's doing attempts to "cancel" anybody.
Kimmel has been no stranger to controversy during his career. Whether it was as co-host of The Man Show or jokes on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, there are examples of Kimmel "crossing the line" and creating more controversy than comedy.
However, it doesn't seem like the public outcry has affected Kimmel or his comedy. If anything, it's led Kimmel to point the finger at those who are outraged and question what exactly comes from such backlash. For Kimmel, it can go as far as making Donald Trump a two-term president.