![\"Comedy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/XOCNFIQANNBTFHBBKLVCZN74FE.jpg\")
Comedy writer and children’s book author Bess Kalb speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill on February 23, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images <\/p>\nA former writer for Jimmy Kimmel has absolutely savaged Donald Trump\u2019s attack on late-night hosts who have \u201cdispleased\u201d him during a House Judiciary Committee.<\/p>\n
Bess Kalb, who wrote for Kimmel\u2019s late-night show for eight years until 2020, joined Democrats in Monday\u2019s hearing on Capitol Hill titled \u201cSilencing Dissent: The First Amendment Under Attack.\u201d<\/p>\n
During her speech, Kalb admitted that for comedy writers, the 79-year-old Trump \u201cis our best and worst audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Comedy writer and children’s book author Bess Kalb speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill on February 23, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images <\/p>\n
\u201cHe is our best audience, because unlike most Americans, he watches late-night television,\u201d Kalb said. \u201cHe cares about what the network men in suits say about him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The writer then took aim at Trump\u2019s persistently bruised<\/a> right hand, which he attempts to cover with makeup.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is our worst audience, because his inexplicably bruised skin is very, very thin,\u201d she said. \u201cHe complained about our jokes frequently. Often in real time, on his own social media site [Truth Social] he invented so that nobody could make fun of him on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Kalb pointed out that despite Trump claiming he was anti-censorship and pro-free speech, he has spent his second term getting revenge on his enemies. That included gloating over Stephen Colbert\u2019s show not being renewed<\/a> by CBS and Jimmy Kimmel having his program<\/a> taken off air.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert was bulldozed like it was the East Wing of the White House,\u201d Kalb said in one of her many back-to-back MAGA zingers, referencing Trump\u2019s ballroom<\/a> construction.<\/p>\n She then added that \u201cemboldened\u201d by the precedent set by Colbert\u2019s show ending, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was \u201cbriefly yanked off air\u201d because the monologue about a MAGA reaction to the murder of right-wing figure Charlie Kirk \u201cdispleased\u201d Trump.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to be fair,\u201d she said. \u201cThe Trump administration denies responsibility for these cancellations, much as the mafia is continuously surprised that so many people end up in the East River with cement blocks on their feet.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Donald](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/DDZ6KUNJZNB3LL6H7BYXUGFYCY.jpg\")
Donald Trump on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2016. Randy Holmes\/Disney General Entertainment Con <\/p>\n