In an emotional and pointed monologue on Monday, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel paid tribute to Hollywood director and political activist Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, following their tragic deaths. He used the moment to deliver a sharp critique of former President Donald Trump's response to the incident, accusing him of a profound lack of leadership.
A Call for Compassion in a Time of Tragedy
Kimmel began his show by addressing a weekend marked by violence, including the deadly mass shootings at Bondi Beach in Australia and at Brown University. He emphasized that such moments demand "compassion and leadership" from the nation's figures. The comedian then stated unequivocally that Donald Trump provided "none of it." Kimmel noted that Trump's response consisted of a brief moment of respect for Australians and condolences for the Ivy League students, which were quickly followed by a dismissive "things can happen" remark.
Trump's 'Hateful and Vile' Social Media Post
The core of Kimmel's critique focused on a social media post from Trump that placed blame for the deaths on Reiner himself. Rob Reiner, known as a staunch liberal and political activist, was targeted in the post, which Kimmel read in its entirety. The Reiner's 32-year-old son, Nick, was booked for murder on Monday in connection with the stabbing deaths of his parents. Kimmel expressed disbelief at Trump's actions, saying, "Just when you think he can't go any lower, he somehow finds a way to do that."
He characterized the former president's behavior as a desperate "rush to pin the tail on the donkey" to create a narrative favorable to himself, regardless of the human cost.
Kimmel's Direct Appeal to the Audience
After playing a clip of Trump doubling down on his attacks, Kimmel addressed his audience directly. "That corroded brain is in charge of our lives. If you voted for that, it's OK to reconsider. It's perfectly fine," he stated. Connecting it back to his personal knowledge of Reiner, Kimmel insisted the director would want the public to continue highlighting the "loathsome atrocities" emanating from Trump. "And so we're going to do that over and over again until the rest of us wake up," Kimmel concluded, vowing to maintain political scrutiny in his comedy.
