After President Donald Trump bookended his Thursday by attacking Jimmy Kimmel, the late-night host got his turn to respond that night. Kimmel's monologue shared footage of his live reaction to the president demending he be fired.
President Trump started his day yesterday by firing off a Truth Social post insulting Kimmel and reiterating his stance that ABC needs to fire the comedian. As if that wasn't enough, President Trump then did a phone interview with Newsmax in which he called Kimmel a "lowlife" and suggested ABC could face consequences.
Opening Thursday night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel played a video his wife, Molly McNearney, had filmed earlier that morning, capturing his real-time reaction to Trump’s latest social media jab labeling him “unfunny” and “low rated.”
McNearney tells a still half-asleep Kimmel that President Trump wants him fired again. “I haven’t even been fired once. How can I be fired again?” he replies.
When told the president had criticized his ratings and humor, Kimmel deadpanned, “Well, those are good reasons" with a smile on his face. According to Kimmel, he then climbed out from under a mountain of pillows and attempted to deal with the latest flashpoint in the feud.
Back on his late-night show, Kimmel came prepared with direct responses to President Trump. “If incompetently presiding over not just one of, but the lowest rating in history is the reason I should be fired,” he joked, “we should both be out of a job because you’re not doing too good either.” The show then flashed a graphic reminding audiences of the president's poor poll numbers.
He also referenced Trump’s Newsmax appearance, where the president called him a “lowlife,” before Kimmel reflected on exactly what he sees as the absurdity of the situation. “This guy is so mad,” Kimmel said. “You would think I posted a picture of seashells or something," a reference to the criminal charges brought against former FBI director James Comey.
Waking up to find out the president of the United States wants him fired must be old news at this point for Kimmel. Yes, he said he doesn't take any of it for granted. But his sleepy reaction suggests he doesn't go on high alert every time President Trump posts about him or brings him up in an interview.
According to Kimmel, the president should have a lot more on his plate than late-night television. The comedian reminded everyone there is still a war dragging on, and it's not the one between Kimmel and Trump or even the FCC and Disney.
But as Kimmel highlighted later in his monologue, the real war has gone on far longer than promised. It seems like the same will always be true in the great battle of Donald Trump vs. late-night TV comedy. At least Kimmel isn't losing any sleep over it.
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