In a scathing return to television, popular late-night host Jimmy Kimmel launched a fierce attack on former US President Donald Trump, labelling him a "dictator" and accusing him of using military action to divert public attention. Kimmel's monologue, which aired on January 5 upon his return to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, dissected Trump's recent actions, including the controversial invasion of Venezuela and the capture of its leader, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife.
From Low Ratings to Calls for Resignation
Kimmel kicked off his first show of the year by stating that Trump's recent activities were so extensive they would need a documentary series to cover. He quickly zeroed in on the former President's hosting of the Kennedy Center Honors. Trump hosted the lowest-rated Kennedy Center Honors telecast in history, a fact Kimmel highlighted with sarcastic glee.
Recalling Trump's past boasts about his television hosting prowess, Kimmel reminded the audience of a previous claim. "He said, 'If I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel, then I don’t think I should be president,'" the comedian quoted. "Well, hey! A deal is a deal! Back to Mar-a-Lago you go!" Kimmel declared, suggesting Trump should honour his word and leave the presidency.
'Invade Venezuela Bad': The Epstein Files Distraction
The comedian then pivoted to what he suggested was the real motive behind the US military move against Venezuela. Kimmel directly linked the action to the ongoing scandal surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case files, which are believed to contain names of powerful associates.
"If you were wondering how bad these Epstein files are for Trump, turns out, they're 'invade Venezuela' bad," Kimmel stated bluntly. He drew a parallel to the plot of the film 'Wag the Dog', where a leader fabricates a war to cover up a personal scandal. "The president gets caught in a sex scandal, so he attacks a smaller country to distract us, and here we are, distracted," he charged.
Netizens and Audience React to Viral Takedown
Kimmel's monologue did not spare the Venezuelan leader either, calling Maduro a criminal dictator who ruined his country's economy for personal gain, but noted, "Maduro is no saint either." The segment, which quickly went viral online, sparked enthusiastic reactions from viewers.
On social media platform X, one user praised, "Kimmels comedic timing has improved drastically over the past 10 months." Another added, "No wonder Trump hates Kimmel. Kimmel eviscerates him at every turn." A Reddit user offered an analysis, stating that Trump's previous attempts to pressure Kimmel's network, Disney, had backfired, essentially giving the host "immunity" to critique him freely.
The comedian's return follows a brief suspension in late 2025 for comments made about right-wing figure Charlie Kirk. His latest, politically charged monologue confirms his resumed role as a vocal critic of the former president, blending satire with sharp political commentary.
