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Jimmy Kimmel is taking aim at Pete Hegseth by mocking the defense secretary’s “romantic” declaration about Donald Trump.
During his monologue on Tuesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the late night host reacted to the “doozy of a performance” that Hegseth gave earlier that day in response to the push for his impeachment.
“He did exactly what members of the Trumper-verse do when they find themselves in a situation like this,” Kimmel explained. “He smeared on the chapstick. He got down on his knees and kissed the royal ass.”
The show then played footage of Hegseth’s speech, in which he said about the president: “We’ve never had a better commander-in-chief. Full stop. I get to watch him every single day. He lives and breathes America first. And it’s the honor of a lifetime to be his secretary of war. Any day he’ll have me, I’ll be right here at this podium.”
Kimmel joked: “Well, in that case, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Jimmy Kimmel took aim at Pete Hegseth in his monologue Tuesday night (Jimmy Kimmel Live/Getty)
He continued, “I mean, that may have been the most romantic speech I’ve ever heard given by a secretary of war. Look out, Melania. Pretty Pete’s gunning for your spot!”
Hegseth’s speech impressed Trump, who later wrote on Truth Social: “Pete Hegseth gets an ‘A’ PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defense against a disgruntled, angry, defeated, former Congressman, Thomas Massie, a TOTAL LOSER!”
The secretary of war was then spared after House Republicans blocked the procedural vote 211-204.
“And then later in the day, Republicans in the House voted to postpone that impeachment vote,” Kimmel spelled out. “They referred it to committee, which means somebody’s having a shot of impeach-flavored schnapps at the Pentagon tonight, if you know what I mean.”
Pete Hegseth praised Donald Trump amid the push to impeach him as the defense secretary (Getty)
The White House did not immediately return The Independent’s request for comment on the most recent remarks, but the Trump administration already took aim at Kimmel earlier this week.
After the late-night host made fun of Trump’s 60 Minutes interview during his show Monday, White House spokesman Davis Ingle shared the same statement with The Independent that had been sent to Kimmel, which he read out on the show.
“Jimmy Kimmel’s case of Trump Derangement Syndrome is so advanced that it has completely rotted his peanut-sized brain,” Ingle said. “He’s far more entertaining when you’re laughing at him than with him, but unfortunately his real talent is his failing ratings. This statement took more braincells to write than the average Jimmy Kimmel joke.”