From Firing Threats to Epstein Mentions, Here’s a Look at the Fraught History Between Trump and Kimmel

President Donald Trump quickly celebrated the temporary removal of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* from television after ABC suspended the show due to comments made by host Jimmy Kimmel about Charlie Kirk, who had passed away.

Former President Trump celebrated the news that Jimmy Kimmel’s show was ending, calling it ‘great news for America’ and praising ABC for its decision. He made the statement shortly after Kimmel’s show was suspended. Trump also pointed to the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show earlier this year and expressed a desire for Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers to also be cancelled.

The reaction has been quick and widespread. Other late-night talk show hosts are strongly supporting Kimmel, believing he has the right to express his opinions. Many celebrities who have appeared on his show since it began in 2003 are also standing by him.

Some Democratic politicians have expressed worry about FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s efforts to indefinitely suspend a particular show, and his statements suggesting the FCC isn’t finished making changes to how media operates. Carr has indicated he’s interested in reviewing other programs, like *The View*, to determine if they meet the criteria to be considered legitimate news programs and therefore avoid regulations requiring equal airtime for different viewpoints, as set by Congress.

After the shooting of conservative activist Kirk, and as police investigate suspect Tyler Robinson’s motives, political tensions are increasing. Following comments by Trump about Kimmel, and with Trump and Vice President Vance calling for stricter measures against the “far-left,” some are now accusing the administration of trying to suppress free speech.

Although the discussion now covers a wider range of topics, the ongoing conflict between Trump and Jimmy Kimmel remains a central issue. This rivalry started well before Kimmel’s talk show was put on hold. Kimmel, like many late-night hosts, has frequently joked about Trump and other politicians in his opening remarks, but their disagreements have sometimes gone beyond just on-air commentary and become more personal.

Here’s a recap of past times when Trump and Kimmel have had public disagreements.

October 2015: Kimmel pokes fun at Trump for cancelling late-night appearance before the pair eventually sit down to speak

Jimmy Kimmel says Donald Trump agreed to be on his talk show during the 2016 presidential campaign, but cancelled right before the scheduled appearance.

So, we got a call last night from his team, and they cancelled on us. They weren’t super clear about why, just something about a big political thing he had to do. He did want me to tell everyone that he wished he could’ve been here, and thought he’d have been great. But honestly, don’t even worry about it! We’re going to make sure everyone still has a blast. We’re giving out basketballs dipped in cologne to everyone in the audience – that way, you’ll get a real sense of what it would’ve been like if Donald Trump *had* shown up!

Two months later, Trump was a guest on the show, and the two of them seemed to have a good rapport despite some previous tension.

September 2017: Kimmel hits out at Trump over healthcare in the U.S.

Jimmy Kimmel criticized Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican who originally came up with the phrase “Jimmy Kimmel test” back in May 2017. This happened after Kimmel spoke out about healthcare access for people with existing health problems and criticized proposed changes under the Trump Administration, including the Graham-Cassidy bill.

Soon after Jimmy Kimmel spoke out, Donald Trump tweeted that he wouldn’t have supported the Graham-Cassidy bill if it didn’t protect people with pre-existing health conditions. He stated that it does offer that protection and called it a “great bill” to repeal and replace the current healthcare system.

Kimmel claimed Trump signed the bill simply to remove Barack Obama’s name from the healthcare law.

According to Jimmy Kimmel, Donald Trump isn’t focused on the details of the Graham-Cassidy bill. Kimmel believes Trump simply wants to repeal Obamacare, largely because it’s associated with President Obama. He suggests Trump would approve any bill that achieved this goal.

February 2018: Kimmel criticizes the Trump Administration over gun-safety laws

Following the tragic shooting at Parkland High School in Florida, which resulted in 17 deaths, Jimmy Kimmel publicly urged President Trump to take action on gun violence in America.

Jimmy Kimmel began by showing his viewers a clip of Donald Trump responding to the shooting, where the President stated, “No parent should have to worry about their children’s safety when they say goodbye each day.”

Kimmel urged people to contact their representatives in Congress – especially those who are parents and care about their communities – and ask them to pass strong laws to prevent people from obtaining assault rifles and harming children. He specifically asked them to publicly advocate for these measures.

Following the applause, the comedian said, “That really shows the kind of common sense you [Trump] promised to bring to the White House… And don’t ever let anyone tell you it’s ‘too soon’ to talk about this – you say that after *every* school shooting where children are killed.”

March 2024: Trump offers harsh review of Kimmel’s Oscar-hosting abilities mid-show. Kimmel proceeds to read it out live on-air

Near the end of the 2024 Oscars, host Jimmy Kimmel jokingly said he wanted to share a “review” of how he did. However, the review wasn’t from a professional TV critic, but from Donald Trump.

Jimmy Kimmel began the Oscars by reading a harsh post from Donald Trump’s social media account. The post criticized Kimmel’s hosting, calling him a poor performer who was trying, and failing, to be someone he wasn’t.

Trump signed off his less-than-stellar review with his trademark “Make America Great Again” slogan.

Jimmy Kimmel responded to criticism by bringing up Donald Trump’s current trial, jokingly asking, “Thanks for watching. I’m surprised you’re still awake, considering your potential jail time.”

I keep seeing this moment resurface, and it’s happening again now that Trump shared the Oscars clip on Thursday. It’s all tied into the current discussion surrounding Kimmel’s recent suspension, and honestly, it feels like a calculated move to reignite the controversy.

Trump said that right before the Best Picture award was announced, he felt he needed to address something Jimmy Kimmel had said near the end of the show. Trump claimed that Kimmel’s wife and agent had pleaded with him not to mention it.

July 2025: Trump warns Kimmel he’s “next” after the cancellation of Colbert’s show. Kimmel responds by referencing Jeffrey Epstein

Stephen Colbert’s late-night show was canceled in July, reportedly due to financial issues. However, the cancellation happened shortly after Colbert publicly criticized Paramount, CBS’s parent company, for a $16 million legal settlement related to a dispute over editing a *60 Minutes* interview with Kamala Harris.

Following the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show, Donald Trump posted several congratulatory messages on Truth Social, suggesting that Jimmy Kimmel would be the next to lose his program.

Trump stated that Jimmy Kimmel is likely to be the next late-night host to lose his job, followed soon after by Jimmy Fallon. He described both of them as having no talent and said they were overpaid to ruin what was once good television, adding that he’s glad to see them potentially leaving and believes he contributed to that outcome.

Jimmy Kimmel reacted by posting a screenshot of Trump’s post to Instagram, adding the caption: “I’m hearing you’re next. Or maybe it’s just another wonderful secret.” This was a pointed reference to a birthday message reportedly written by the President to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.

The Wall Street Journal first published the letter and claims against Donald Trump, prompting him to file a lawsuit against the newspaper. While the White House firmly denies Trump wrote the birthday note to Epstein, they haven’t stated the documents are forgeries.

Jimmy Kimmel had mentioned the birthday message previously, when Donald Trump first reacted to Stephen Colbert’s show being canceled.

The late-night host shared a photo of himself and his family at a protest inspired by the legacy of civil rights leader John Lewis. The protests, called “Good Trouble,” were held across the country to oppose the Trump Administration.

Jimmy Kimmel and his family protested with signs saying “Make America Good Again” and “I wish we had a better President.” However, it was the message accompanying his post – a reference to the rumored note about Jeffrey Epstein – that really got people talking.

Kimmel shared a glimpse into his summer family vacation, playfully using the hashtag #goodtrouble, and wished for ‘another wonderful secret’ each day.

September 2025: Trump dismisses reporter’s question over free speech concerns and claims Kimmel was “fired” for “lack of talent”

Trump first reacted to Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension by posting about it online. He then continued to criticize the talk show host during a press conference in the U.K., which took place while he was on his second state visit.

A reporter brought up Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and asked Donald Trump whether free speech faced more challenges in the UK or the US.

According to Trump, Jimmy Kimmel lost his job mainly because his show wasn’t getting good ratings. He also pointed to a critical comment Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk, saying Kimmel should have been fired for that much earlier. Trump dismissed the idea that this was a free speech issue, stating Kimmel was ultimately fired due to a lack of skill.

2025-09-19 17:07