Times are changing in late-night television, leading everyone to share their opinions on where the format should go in the wake of The Late Show's cancellation. We can now add Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to the list after he gave his thoughts on Jimmy Kimmel and more.
Over the weekend, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy praised a thread on X that mocked the evolution of modern late-night television, particularly focusing on Stephen Colbert and liberal political comedy. While sharing the post, Kennedy used it as an opportunity to criticize Kimmel’s approach to hosting.
“Superb dissection of the shocking collapse of liberal comedy,” Kennedy wrote. “This is the best explanation of how we’ve reached the nader (sic) where Late Night host Jimmy Kimmel can say ‘It’s not my job to be funny.’ As this author shows, he was hired as a comedian but he made himself a priest.”
Superb dissection of the shocking collapse of liberal comedy. This is the best explanation of how we've reached the nader where Late Night host Jimmy Kimmel can say “It’s not my job to be funny.” As this author shows, he was hired as a comedian but he made himself a priest. https://t.co/tWEpVPA0zQ
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 24, 2026
The thread Kennedy amplified was written by Peter Girnus, who framed the satire as if it were authored by a fictional “Senior Vice President of Late Night Strategy at CBS.” The piece centered heavily on Colbert’s transformation from the exaggerated conservative parody character he played on The Colbert Report into the more openly political version of himself who hosted The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The broader argument of the satire was that liberal comedy stopped prioritizing humor and instead became overly focused on political and moral messaging. However, Colbert has previously denied that he's partisan or that he ever intended for The Late Show to lean so heavily into politics.
Kennedy's criticism ties directly into comments Kimmel made last month during an appearance on the podcast IMO, hosted by Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. During the interview, Kimmel pushed back against critics who insist late-night hosts should avoid political commentary and focus strictly on jokes. “My job is whatever I decide my job is or whatever my employer allows me to do,” Kimmel said.
Responding on social media, the comedian corrected Kennedy’s spelling of “nadir” before bluntly calling the Health and Human Services secretary a “dummy.” The comedian also sarcastically told Kennedy to "get back to spreading polio."
The exchange adds another chapter to the increasingly political atmosphere surrounding late-night television, especially following the recent end of Colbert’s run at CBS. Critics of modern late-night have used Colbert’s exit to argue audiences are tiring of politically driven comedy, while supporters counter that hosts like Colbert and Kimmel became essential voices against the current administration.
It wasn't that long ago that the White House and Trump administration turned up the heat on Kimmel. His joke about Melania Trump around the White House Correspondents' Dinner created a controversy that led the president, First Lady, and others to call for his job. Now, RFK Jr., is joining in, adding another reason why Kimmel and his staff should be out of jobs.
Given Kimmel’s history, it seems unlikely he’ll let Kennedy’s comments slide quietly and leave it at a social media post. The host has repeatedly used Jimmy Kimmel Live! to respond directly to political feuds, particularly when public officials target him personally.
That means Kennedy may find himself becoming monologue material when Kimmel returns Tuesday night. A new episode airs on ABC at 11: 35. p.m. ET.
Add us as a preferred source on Google