Jimmy Kimmel says Donald Trump has a crush on him during ABC rant

Jimmy Kimmel says Donald Trump has a crush on him

ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel recently shocked audiences by suggesting President Trump might harbour romantic feelings towards him. This claim came during his Monday monologue, sparking viral reactions across social media platforms.

The remark emerged from a heated exchange between the two figures, marking another chapter in their ongoing contentious feud. Kimmel’s humorous take on Trump’s obsessive focus gained immediate audience traction everywhere.

Trump makes dig at Kimmel’s Kennedy Center hosting skills

Trump launched sharp criticism at Kimmel during the Kennedy Center Honors event, calling him “horrible” and “terrible.” The president boldly claimed if he couldn’t outperform Kimmel in talent, he shouldn’t serve.

These comments were made ahead of the Kennedy Center honors, emphasizing Trump’s deep frustration with the popular late-night host. Kimmel responded with characteristic wit, turning Trump’s insults into comedic gold for audiences.

Kimmel shoots back with witty comeback

Kimmel fired back during his Monday broadcast. He sarcastically agreed with Trump’s assertion, saying: “I’ve never agreed with anything more than that ever.”

Kimmel then questioned if Trump confused him with Queen Latifah, suggesting the president didn’t know his actual hosting history. This clever rejoinder left audiences laughing while highlighting Trump’s factual errors clearly.

Understanding Kimmel’s ‘crush’ observation

Kimmel’s provocative “crush” remark stemmed directly from Trump’s relentless focus and repeated personal attacks. The host noted Trump’s distinctly obsessive pattern of criticizing him both publicly and on his social media platforms.

This clever observation suggested Trump’s behaviour patterns distinctly resembled someone with romantic feelings. Kimmel delivered the line with perfect comedic timing, transforming potential insult into amusing commentary on Trump’s obvious fixation.

Trump becomes first president to host Kennedy Center honors

Trump made history by becoming the first sitting president to host the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony on December 8, 2025. This unprecedented move marked a significant departure from established traditional protocols.

Kimmel joked about why no previous president had hosted the prestigious ceremony. He threw another light jab, mentioning that Neil Patrick Harris never ordered military strikes on fishing boats before anywhere.

ABC announces Kimmel’s one-year contract extension

Following months of significant uncertainty and suspension concerns, ABC officially confirmed Kimmel’s important contract renewal through May 2027. This one-year extension marked a notably shorter deal than his typical three-year arrangements previously signed.

Kimmel sarcastically apologized to Trump for announcing the major extension during a “sensitive time.” The announcement came despite ongoing presidential pressure demanding his complete network removal immediately.

Jimmy Kimmel Live celebrates 22 years on air

Jimmy Kimmel Live! premiered in 2003 and remains a cornerstone of ABC’s late-night programming strategy. The show has consistently delivered comedy, celebrity interviews, and political commentary for over two decades successfully.

Currently in its 24th season, the program draws millions of viewers nightly, making it one of television’s most enduring talk shows. Kimmel’s extension ensures continuity as the late-night landscape undergoes significant transformation.

Kimmel’s ratings surge after return and controversy

When Kimmel returned from his September suspension, he drew an impressive 6.2 million viewers, nearly three times his average audience size. This dramatic spike proved strong audience interest despite network controversy and affiliate boycotts.

Recent data shows Jimmy Kimmel Live! consistently averaging 1.77 million viewers in the demographic ranking. These strong numbers demonstrate Kimmel’s continued relevance and his ability to attract substantial audiences successfully.

Kimmel ranked third most trending person of 2025

Google’s year-end trends report revealed Kimmel as the third-most-searched person globally in 2025, trailing only singer D4vd and rapper Kendrick Lamar internationally. This achievement surpassed Pope Francis and rapper Diddy.

Kimmel humorously credited Trump with his rapid rise to prominence, thanking the president for being a “loyal viewer.” This viral moment highlighted Trump’s ironic role in boosting Kimmel’s visibility significantly.

Trump’s repeated calls for Kimmel’s dismissal continue

Trump regularly demands Kimmel’s firing and removal via Truth Social, heavily criticizing ABC for continuing employment. The president claims Kimmel lacks talent and maintains consistently poor ratings, dismissing the late-night host’s overall credibility.

Kimmel noted Trump posts attacks within minutes of episodes ending, suggesting the president watches live broadcasts. This clear pattern demonstrates Trump’s obsessive focus on Kimmel’s show content and continued engagement.

ABC suspended Kimmel following controversial monologue

In September 2025, ABC temporarily pulled Kimmel’s show after his remarks regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s tragic incident. The suspension drew immediate and strong backlash, with viewers cancelling Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions.

The network reinstated Kimmel within six days, citing important free speech concerns raised nationally. This significant controversy intensified Trump-Kimmel tensions while demonstrating strong audience support for the popular comedian.

Kimmel’s talent competition challenge emerges

During his witty response, Kimmel playfully suggested a talent competition against Trump publicly. He boasted about his abilities: telling jokes, drawing cartoons, and playing clarinet while humorously listing Trump’s competitive advantages.

This comedic challenge became one of the monologue’s most memorable moments ever, generating millions of social media shares globally. The playful banter continued Kimmel’s tradition of transforming political criticism into pure entertainment.

In other news, see how Kimmel boldly claimed he’s more popular than the president himself.

Late-night television faces significant landscape changes

Kimmel’s contract extension arrives as late-night programming undergoes a dramatic transformation industry-wide currently. Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show concludes in May 2026, marking CBS’s complete exit from the traditional late-night broadcasting arena.

Industry analysts attribute these significant changes to declining ratings and challenging advertising revenue affecting major networks. Kimmel’s continued presence represents ABC’s strong commitment to maintaining quality late-night comedy programming for audiences.

Jimmy Kimmel bounced back with jokes after the revival of his suspended show. See how he poked fun at JD Vance during his big TV return.

Like if Kimmel’s roast got you laughing and share your thoughts in the comments.

Read More From This Brand:

• Jimmy Kimmel asks if business owners credit Trump for troop deployment
• Minnie Driver sparks a free speech debate after Jimmy Kimmel’s sudden show suspension
• Jon Stewart’s response to Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension was incredibly brave and risky

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.