Trump's Rally Attack on Kimmel
During a recent rally, President Donald Trump singled out late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, calling him a loser because Kimmel had commented on the empty seats at one of Trump's events. Trump told the crowd that the place was packed, mentioning he had just left Texas or somewhere, and maybe it was Ohio. He then mimicked Kimmel, saying the host had claimed the rally was sparsely attended, and insisted that thousands of people had to walk and could not get into the arena. Trump described Kimmel and others as crooked people and losers.[S1]
Kimmel's On-Air Response
Kimmel shot back by asking whether that impression was accurate, and said he was taken aback that among everything he had criticized Trump for in the prior week, the seating remark was the one that got under his skin. He restated the point, saying the rally had plenty of unfilled seats, including the very event where Trump objected to his claim. Kimmel also said Trump attributes rear and upper-level vacancies to supporters moving closer to the front, joking that no Lakers game works that way, though a Secret Service-run event might. He noted he never even displayed footage of the thin crowd.[S1]
Kimmel then displayed an image of an Alabama rally with numerous vacant spots, comparing the scene to Trump's mental sharpness, which he said was likewise running below full capacity.[S1]
A History of Barbs
The two men have traded insults repeatedly in recent years. While emceeing the 2024 Oscars, Kimmel read aloud a Truth Social post from Trump and thanked him, joking that he was startled Trump was awake and wondered whether it was past his jail time. Trump responded by branding Kimmel a dope and among the dumbest people alive. In a Rolling Stone interview last year, Kimmel said he likes provoking Trump, arguing most comics have a keen sense of justice that Trump routinely offends. Kimmel said he knows they ought to be numb by now, but he isn't, and it still shocks him, likening Trump to a comic-book villain. He said he had hoped to reveal what is really happening and change things that way, but since the election he views himself more as an outlet to scream.[S1]
