Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel delivered a sharp and calculated response to President Donald Trump on Thursday, after the commander-in-chief launched a social media attack urging ABC to remove the comedian from the airwaves.
A Special Hello to the White House
Kimmel opened his Thursday night broadcast with a pointed greeting. "A special hello to those of you who are watching from the White House," he said, directly acknowledging the presidential viewer. The host highlighted the timing of Trump's online post, which appeared at 12:49 a.m. on Wednesday, a mere 11 minutes after Kimmel's show concluded. This, Kimmel gloated, was proof that the President watches the program live.
"Hi, Mr. President. How are you? Thanks for watching us on TV instead of on YouTube. We appreciate that," Kimmel remarked, adding with irony, "It's viewers like you who keep us on the air."
A History of Presidential Attacks
Kimmel, a frequent target of the President's ire, noted that he has lost count of how many times Trump has demanded his show be cancelled. "Every five weeks he flips out and wants me fired," Kimmel stated, comparing the situation to receiving numerous threats from a neighbor. He quipped that a judge would have no issue granting a restraining order in such a scenario, likely concluding, 'Yeah, sounds like the guy's nuts.'
The host specifically referenced a recent incident from September, when Trump attempted to have him fired over comments Kimmel made about the killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. "It didn't work," Kimmel declared triumphantly, adding, "Mr. President, I admire your tenacity."
Kimmel's Final Offer and Parting Shot
Kimmel then extended a theatrical proposal to the President. Presuming Trump was watching, the host suggested a pact: "I'll go when you go. OK? It'll be a team. Let's ride off into the sunset together, like Butch Cassidy and the Suntan Kid."
To conclude his monologue, Kimmel borrowed a phrase that Trump had directed at a reporter earlier in the week, a remark that drew widespread condemnation but was defended by the White House. Kimmel's final two words to the President were a simple, "Quiet, piggy." This closing remark underscored the deeply personal and contentious nature of the ongoing feud between the entertainer and the politician.
