Jimmy Kimmel addressed his unexpected involvement in Donald Trump’s recent criticism of Trevor Noah following the Grammy Awards. The late-night host reacted after Trump brought up Kimmel while responding to a joke Noah made during the broadcast.
Jimmy Kimmel responds to Donald Trump’s diss
On February 2, 2026, Jimmy Kimmel responded to former President Donald Trump’s criticism during the opening monologue of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Trump had commented earlier that day about Trevor Noah’s hosting of the Grammy Awards, saying, “I thought he did a terrible job at the Grammys… I’d say not as bad as Jimmy Kimmel, but pretty close.” Kimmel replied on-air, “Boy, I really got up his a**,” and joked, “How did I get in there? I was at home last night, minding my own business.”
Trump’s remarks followed a Grammys joke made by Noah involving the president and Jeffrey Epstein’s island. Trump stated, “[Noah] said that I spent time on Jeffrey Epstein’s Island. I didn’t… He’s a lightweight, this guy.” Trump called Noah a “lousy host” and later added, “The whole Grammys was terrible.”
Kimmel referred to Trump as “President Dementia” during his segment and sarcastically noted that Trump had “got back to the issues that matter most to the American people.” He pointed out that Trump not only watched the Grammys but commented on other award shows as well, saying, “Donald Trump somehow has time to watch every award show and hates them all.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump reiterated his opinion, writing that Noah “is almost as bad as Jimmy Kimmel at the Low Rating Academy Awards.” He also threatened legal action, stating, “It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C., and suing him for plenty$… Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!”
Kimmel, who has hosted the Oscars four times, remarked, “If Melania gets nominated for an Oscar, I will host that show whether they ask me to or not. I will insist on it.”
