Lead: On Thursday night, Jimmy Kimmel responded directly on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live to President Donald Trump’s 12:49 a.m. ET Truth Social post calling for the host to be removed from the air. Kimmel used his opening monologue to mock the President’s low approval ratings and to note the timing of the post shortly after his East Coast broadcast ended. He revived a one-liner — “I’ll go when you go” — framing his potential departure as contingent on Trump’s. The exchange follows a contentious history between the President and late-night hosts, including a suspension episode in September.
Key Takeaways
- Trump posted on Truth Social at 12:49 a.m. ET urging ABC to “Get the bum off the air!!!,” directly naming Jimmy Kimmel.
- Kimmel opened Thursday’s ABC telecast by referencing the post and the timestamp, suggesting the President watched the East Coast airing.
- Kimmel quipped that Trump, with second-term-low approval ratings, is hardly in a position to criticize television ratings.
- Kimmel reminded viewers ABC briefly pulled him off the air in September after an FCC-related warning involving then-FCC official Brendan Carr.
- The host said his contract runs through the end of this season; he has not publicly committed to staying beyond that date.
- Kimmel reused the phrase “quiet, Piggy” — a line Trump used toward a Bloomberg reporter — as part of his rebuttal.
Background
Late-night television has long been a stage for political commentary and partisan sparring. Presidents and presidential contenders frequently criticize hosts who lampoon them, and late-night hosts routinely answer back with satire and personal jabs. Under the Trump presidency and its aftermath, the relationship between the White House and entertainment media has been unusually adversarial, with social media amplifying immediate reactions.
In September, ABC temporarily pulled Kimmel off the air after an incident that drew an advisory from then-FCC official Brendan Carr concerning a joke about a MAGA reaction to a high-profile assassination. The network reinstated Kimmel after public backlash. That episode established a precedent for disputes over broadcast content, regulatory pressure and network decision-making.
Main Event
On Thursday, President Trump posted a late-night message on Truth Social calling for ABC to remove Kimmel, labeling him as having “NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS.” Kimmel addressed that post in his opening monologue, noting its 12:49 a.m. ET timestamp came minutes after his show’s East Coast broadcast concluded. He used the moment to needle the President about his approval ratings, which polling shows at historically low second-term levels.
Kimmel acknowledged Trump’s earlier attempt to have him fired in September and praised the President’s persistence while rejecting the demand. The host then offered a retort framed as a deadpan bargain: “I’ll go when you go,” suggesting mutual exit from the public stage rather than a unilateral removal. He further invoked Trump’s own phrase “quiet, Piggy,” which the President used toward a reporter during recent press questioning.
The on-air exchange is the latest in a series of public back-and-forths between Trump and late-night hosts. Kimmel’s contract status — set to expire at the end of the season — adds another layer to the narrative, though he has not announced a final decision. The segment was titled “Quiet, Piggy!” and included both satire and direct address to the President.
Analysis & Implications
The immediate implication is reputational: high-profile disputes like this keep both the President and the late-night host in headlines, reinforcing their public personas. For Trump, attacking entertainment figures can energize supporters and signal zero tolerance for perceived slights. For Kimmel and his peers, direct engagement with a sitting or former president raises the profile of their commentary and can drive viewership and social-media engagement.
There are regulatory and commercial angles as well. The September incident showed how complaints or warnings involving the FCC can pressure networks, even if the network later reverses course following public pushback. Advertisers and network executives monitor these flashpoints for potential brand risk; sustained controversy can affect ad rates, affiliate relations and programming decisions.
Politically, late-night retorts can shape public perceptions beyond entertainment circles. Satire and ridicule can erode credibility for public figures among undecided audiences, while also deepening partisan divides for those already settled. If Kimmel were to leave the show at contract end, the departure could be spun differently across political media ecosystems — as standing up for free expression by supporters, or as deserved consequence by detractors.
Comparison & Data
| Date (2025) | Event |
|---|---|
| September | ABC briefly removed Kimmel after an FCC-related warning involving Brendan Carr; host later reinstated |
| November (Thursday), 12:49 a.m. ET | Trump posts on Truth Social urging ABC to fire Kimmel |
| Same night (East Coast) | Kimmel opens ABC telecast, responds with line “I’ll go when you go” |
The table above highlights the recent timeline: a regulatory flashpoint in September and a renewed exchange in November. Ratings figures for specific episodes vary by market and syndication window; Kimmel’s comment about the President’s “bad ratings” referenced recent public-opinion lows rather than a specific Nielsen number. Networks typically weigh episode-level ratings, affiliate feedback and advertiser response when assessing talent decisions.
Reactions & Quotes
Media and public reactions were rapid. Below are representative statements and how they fit into the conversation.
The host framed his response as both a joke and a political retort, signaling willingness to keep satirizing powerful figures rather than yielding to pressure.
“I’ll go when you go. We’ll be a team. Let’s ride off into the sunset together — like Butch Cassidy and the Suntan Kid.”
Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Kimmel Live
This line was delivered as part of the opening monologue and served to both lampoon and deflect the President’s demand. Kimmel’s invocation of partnership and mutual exit reduces the threat to a comedic bargain and reasserts his role as a satirist.
Trump’s public posts continued the pattern of direct attacks on media figures, often using blunt language that reverberates across social platforms.
“Why does ABC Fake News keep Jimmy Kimmel, a man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS, on the air? Get the bum off the air!!!”
Donald J. Trump, Truth Social post (12:49 a.m. ET)
That post’s timing and tone were central to Kimmel’s on-air rejoinder. The President’s repeated criticisms of media personalities have become a recurring element of his communication strategy.
“Quiet, piggy!”
Donald J. Trump (addressing a reporter during a separate exchange)
This phrase, used toward a reporter in a different interaction, was repurposed by Kimmel in his monologue; it has become a flashpoint in the current exchange and a shorthand for the broader tenor of the confrontation.
Unconfirmed
- It is unconfirmed whether President Trump watched the East Coast telecast live; the timing of his Truth Social post suggests it but does not prove live viewing.
- Kimmel has not announced a final decision about renewing or ending his contract beyond this season; reports of a definitive departure are unverified.
Bottom Line
The exchange between Jimmy Kimmel and President Trump is typical of a broader pattern in which political figures and late-night entertainers trade public barbs that amplify both sides’ profiles. While the confrontation is high-profile, it is also largely symbolic: such moments tend to produce headline cycles without immediate policy consequences. Still, the incident underscores ongoing tensions around broadcast boundaries, regulatory pressure and the political role of entertainment.
For viewers and industry watchers, the key items to monitor are Kimmel’s contract decision at season’s end, any formal follow-up from ABC or regulatory bodies, and whether the pattern of direct presidential attacks on entertainers escalates into concrete actions that affect programming. Until then, the sparring will likely remain a prominent part of late-night and political media coverage.