Jimmy Kimmel has hit back at Donald Trump after the he renewed his calls for the late-night host to be taken off air. In the latest round of the long-running feud, Kimmel used Thursday night's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
to respond directly - and sharply - to Trump's latest post criticising him.
Trump had labelled the comedian "a man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS" while urging ABC to "Get the bum off the air!!!". But Kimmel brushed off the attack, turning the spotlight on Trump's own approval numbers as he delivered a pointed on-air monologue.
Trump's criticism sparks another on-air retort
Kimmel noted that Trump's post appeared mere minutes after the East Coast airing of his show, joking that the President watches Jimmy Kimmel Live! in real time.
"He watches us live… Hi, Mr President, how are you? Thanks for watching us on TV instead of YouTube. It's viewers like you who keep us on the air, ironically," he said.
Taking another swipe, he added, "He keeps saying we have bad ratings. And you should listen to him - because if anyone knows about bad ratings - it's that guy!"
Kimmel also quipped about Trump's timing: "It's also sweet that even in the middle of the biggest sex scandal in the history of the American presidency, he takes precious time on the toilet to post about our show."
A longstanding clash
The comedian revealed that he found out about Trump's latest remarks from his wife. "I woke up this morning… She goes, 'Um, Trump tweeted you should be fired again.' I was like, 'Oh,' and then I went downstairs and made bagels for the kids," he said.
Their rivalry resurfaced earlier this year when ABC briefly suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! in September after comments Kimmel made about the assassination of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk. Trump celebrated the move at the time, declaring the show "ratings-challenged". The network reinstated Kimmel within a week after a backlash against its parent company, Disney.
Referring to that episode, Kimmel addressed Trump directly: "You've done this before. You tried to get me fired in September. It didn't work. Mr President, I admire your tenacity. If you're watching tonight, which I presume you are, how about this? I'll go when you go."
Kimmel ends with a stinging sign-off
The host wrapped up his monologue by referencing Trump's recent "Quiet, piggy" remark to a Bloomberg reporter who had questioned him about releasing the Epstein files.
"We'll be a team. Let's ride off into the sunset together - like Butch Cassidy and the Suntan Kid," Kimmel said. "And until then - if I may borrow a phrase from you… Quiet, Piggy!"
Kimmel's contract with ABC is set to expire at the end of the current season, and the host has yet to confirm whether he plans to extend his run.