The ongoing political feud between late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and former President Donald Trump has spilled into personal family relationships, creating permanent rifts according to Kimmel's wife, Molly McNearney.
Family Ties Severed Over Political Beliefs
During a recent appearance on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast alongside her husband, McNearney revealed the emotional toll their public conflicts with Trump have taken on her family connections. The co-head writer and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live! confessed she has lost relationships with relatives who support the former president.
"It hurts me so much because of the personal relationship I now have where my husband is out there fighting this man," McNearney explained during the November 10, 2025 podcast episode. "To me, them voting for Trump is them not voting for my husband and me and our family. And I unfortunately have kind of lost relationships with people in my family because of it."
From Conservative Roots to Democratic Values
McNearney described her journey from a conservative upbringing in St. Louis to becoming a prominent Democratic supporter after moving away and meeting "people from different backgrounds." This political evolution has created what she describes as constant conflict with Trump-supporting family members.
"I feel like I'm kind of in constant conflict and I'm angry all the time, which isn't healthy at all," McNearney admitted. "But I personalize everything now. When I see these terrible stories every day, I'm immediately mad at certain aunts, uncles, cousins who put him in power. And it's really hard."
The television producer detailed her attempts to persuade relatives through emotional emails before elections, pleading with them not to support Trump. These efforts largely failed, with most family members ignoring her messages or responding with what she characterized as "truly insane" replies.
The Kimmel-Trump Feud Timeline
The conflict between Kimmel and Trump spans nearly a decade, beginning when Trump appeared on Kimmel's show ten years ago. The relationship deteriorated significantly during Trump's presidency:
- 2017: Kimmel criticized Trump's attempts to overhaul Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act
- 2018: The host accused Trump of inaction on gun violence following a Florida high school shooting
- 2023: Rolling Stone reported that Trump ordered staffers to complain to ABC and Disney about Kimmel's jokes
The feud reached new heights during the 2024 Oscars when Kimmel responded to Trump's social media criticism during the broadcast. Trump had posted: "Has there EVER been a WORPER HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars?" to which Kimmel quipped: "See if you can guess which former president just posted that on Truth Social. Anyone? No? Well, thank you, President Trump. Thank you for watching."
This past summer, Trump celebrated when CBS canceled Stephen Colbert's late-night show, writing on Truth Social: "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!"
Personal Values Versus Family Politics
McNearney emphasized that the division goes beyond typical political disagreements. "It feels silly. You know, part of me goes, 'Don't let politics get in the way.' But to me, this isn't politics. It's truly values," she explained. "And we just were not aligned anymore."
The family conflict intensified in September 2025 when Kimmel was briefly pulled off the air following comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination. After Kimmel returned following "thoughtful conversations" with Disney, Trump reacted furiously on Truth Social: "I can't believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his 'talent' was never there. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings."
Despite the strained family relationships, McNearney noted that she has grown closer to relatives who share her political views. The personal cost of political polarization has become a permanent feature of her family dynamics, illustrating how national political conflicts can create irreparable damage in personal relationships.
