President Donald Trump reignited his long-running feud with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel this week, posting an edited Oscars clip to Truth Social that left out a pointed joke at his expense.
On Thursday, Trump shared a video from the 2024 Academy Awards, where Kimmel had read one of Trump’s Truth Social posts aloud during the ceremony. Trump presented the clip as proof of his triumph over the comedian, but the footage abruptly ends before Kimmel’s most stinging punchline.
“Jimmy Kimmel, just before announcement of the Best Picture of the Year, felt that he had to respond to a TRUTH put out by me toward the end of the Show,” Trump wrote. “He made a total FOOL of himself, his wife and agent begging him not to do it, while also proving to be one of the Worst Hosts in the History of the Academy Awards. WATCH THE CLIP!”
In the post, Kimmel read, Trump attacked his performance as host. “Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars. His opening was that of a less-than-average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be,” Trump wrote. He suggested replacing Kimmel with “another washed-up, but cheap, ABC ‘talent,’ George Slopanopoulos.” Trump also called the broadcast “disjointed, boring, and very unfair.”
What Trump’s shared clip omitted was Kimmel’s response, which brought the crowd to its feet. “Thank you, President Trump, thank you for watching. I’m surprised you’re still—isn’t it past your jail time?” Kimmel joked, sparking loud laughter and applause. He followed with, “He’s focused on the important stuff for sure.”
Kimmel later explained that producers had urged him not to read the post, but he couldn’t resist. “It kind of tells you all you need to know about Donald Trump,” Kimmel said in an interview with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. “He wrote this because he was upset I didn’t mention him on the show. No one mentioned him on the show. He wasn’t getting any attention; he couldn’t stand it.”
The feud between the two is nothing new. Trump has previously labeled Kimmel a “loser,” “an untalented fool,” “a dope,” and “one of the dumbest human beings ever.” In 2018, Rolling Stone reported that Trump’s staff contacted a Disney executive to complain about Kimmel.
This week, the conflict escalated further. After Trump’s posts circulated, FCC Chairman reportedly threatened ABC’s license, and the network announced that “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” canceling Wednesday night’s taping as audience members waited outside.