The long-running feud between Donald Trump and Jimmy Kimmel is heating up once again, this time over a punchline about a cabinet official. But the president's defense may have revealed more than he intended.
This latest installment of Trump vs. Kimmel began earlier in the week. Kimmel took aim at newly appointed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, poking fun at his pre-political career, which included a stint as a mixed martial artist and work as a plumber. The jokes quickly sparked backlash from Republicans, who accused Kimmel of mocking blue-collar workers and labeled the comedian an elitist.
Despite his status as a wealthy elite himself, President Trump decided to defend Mullin during a phone interview with The Five on Fox News. “[Mullin] had a very good record in fighting but, you know, that’s unimportant,” Trump said. “But he is sort of a fighter. But more than you know. I call him country smart.”
The term "country smart" may have revealed a bit about what President Trump thinks about Kristi Noem's successor. Mullin doesn't come with the Ivy League education touted by many other politicians, and has himself admitted he's not the smartest person in the room.
But President Trump wasn't done there when it came to giving unintended insight. He turned his attention fully to Kimmel, calling the late-night TV host a "loser."
“He gets no ratings, none,” Trump continued. “He’s got no talent.” However, the president's attempt at framing Kimmel as obsessed with him revealed something else.
“He’s got Trump Derangement syndrome. I mean, whatever I watch, I just can’t believe that he’s even on the air,” Trump said. “He shouldn’t be on the air. You know, in the old days when you didn’t have good ratings, or you didn’t have any ratings, practically, you get fired. He should be canned.”
Despite the harsh criticism, Trump also inadvertently revealed that he still tunes in to Jimmy Kimmel Live!. President Trump remains late-night TV's most famous fan, routinely giving feedback on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and even Saturday Night Live UK.
But Kimmel has been one of Trump’s most consistent critics throughout his time in politics, frequently devoting monologue segments to bashing everything Trump. The president's refusal to let anything go has only kept the feud alive and given Kimmel a bigger platform.
There’s little indication that Kimmel’s job is in jeopardy, either. ABC recently extended the host’s contract through 2027, signaling continued confidence in his late-night show, regardless of what the president might think.