play

Jimmy Kimmel mocks Trump after beating him in popularity poll

Jimmy Kimmel joked on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ that he’s now “more popular” than US President Donald Trump, citing a new YouGov poll.

unbranded – Entertainment

After President Donald Trump once again called for Jimmy Kimmel’s removal from TV airwaves, the late-night host accused Trump of trying to get him fired earlier this year.

In a Nov. 19 Truth Social post, the president expressed confusion over Kimmel’s employment status, writing: “Why does ABC Fake News keep Jimmy Kimmel, a man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS, on the air? Why do the TV Syndicates put up with it? Also, totally biased coverage. Get the bum off the air!!!”

During his opening monologue on Thursday, Kimmel recounted the September hiatus of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following pushback from the Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr and station owners Sinclair and Nexstar over the host’s comments regarding the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.

“You’ve done this before. You tried to get me fired in September. It didn’t work,” Kimmel said on the Nov. 20 episode, adding, “Mr President, I admire your tenacity.”

Trump White House reacts to ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ comments

In response to a USA TODAY request for comment, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson clapped back, writing, “Reacting to Kimmel’s show would require me to waste my time watching it, and like many Americans who choose not to watch it, I have more entertaining things to do – like watch paint dry.”

The Emmy-winning comedian also jabbed at comments Trump made on a Nov. 20 Truth Social post where he accused six Democratic members of Congress of “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” The post seemingly referred to the six lawmakers featured in a video urging U.S. service members to refuse to carry out orders they believe are unlawful, referring to it as their right and obligation.

“Seditious behavior, punishable by death, which, is one of the worst punishments there is. It’s even worse than losing your TV show, for instance. No big deal. Just the president of the United States musing about Congress people being executed,” Kimmel quipped.

Trump clarified he is not actually threatening the Democratic lawmakers with execution in a Nov. 21 interview on Fox News Radio’s “Brian Kilmeade Show.”

“I’m not threatening death,” he said. “But I think they’re in serious trouble. In the old days, it was death.”

Kimmel’s abrupt suspension in September prompted concerns over freedom of speech in the country, with First Amendment advocates accusing the FCC of revoking the broadcast licenses of stations that criticize Trump. 

Earlier this month, Carr echoed Trump’s call for NBC to fire “Late Night” host Seth Meyers. The FCC chairman shared a Truth Social post where Trump said Meyers “is suffering from an incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome,” and that “Aside from everything else, Meyers has no talent, and NBC should fire him, IMMEDIATELY!”