From Firing Threats to Epstein Mentions, Here's a Look at the Fraught History Between Trump and Kimmel

President Donald Trump has called for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be "immediately fired," marking the latest escalation in their years-long feud.

The row is in relation to a skit on Jimmy Kimmel Live! about the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which aired days before this year's offering of the annual event took place.

During the bit, Kimmel pretended to be the event's MC and said: “Our First Lady Melania is here. So beautiful, Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”

While the quip was filmed and televised before a gunman incident derailed the dinner on Saturday evening, the President has called for the end of Kimmel's show.

On Monday, Trump said Kimmel's joke was "really shocking" and referred to it as a "despicable call to violence."

"Normally [I] would not be responsive to anything that he [Kimmel] said, but this is something beyond the pale," Trump said via Truth Social. "Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC."

The President's statement came shortly after his wife Melania accused Kimmel of "hateful and violent rhetoric" and said it's "time for ABC to take a stand."

"His monologue about my family isn’t comedy—his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate," she argued.

But Kimmel vehemently defended himself during his show which aired Monday night and said the sketch had been "a very light roast joke about the fact that he's [President Trump] almost 80 and she's [Melania] younger than I am."

"It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination and they know that. I've been very vocal for many years speaking out against gun violence, in particular," Kimmel emphasized. "I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject. I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it."

This is just the latest public fallout to occur between the President and the late-night host. Here's a look at some of the previous instances whereby Trump and Kimmel have shared tense—and public—exchanges.

October 2015: Kimmel pokes fun at Trump for cancelling late-night appearance before the pair eventually sit down to speak

During Trump’s first presidential campaign, the then-Republican candidate was set to appear on Kimmel’s talk show, but cancelled at the last minute, according to the host.

“Last night, his people called and cancelled on us. They were a little bit cryptic as to why he cancelled. They said he has a major political commitment, but he did want me to relay the message to you that if he had been here, he would have been great,” Kimmel said. “But don’t worry, tonight we’re going to give everyone in the audience a basketball dipped in cologne so you can fully experience what it would have been like had Donald Trump been here.”

Trump appeared on the show two months later, with the two seemingly getting along despite the earlier signs of friction.

September 2017: Kimmel hits out at Trump over healthcare in the U.S.

Shortly after Kimmel’s remarks, Trump posted: “I would not sign Graham-Cassidy if it did not include coverage of pre-existing conditions. It does! A great bill. Repeal and replace.”

In response, Kimmel accused Trump of signing the bill to get rid of Barack Obama’s name from healthcare legislation.

“For Donald Trump, this isn’t about the Graham-Cassidy bill. It’s about getting rid of Obamacare, which he hates, primarily because Obama’s name is on it,” Kimmel alleged. “At this point he would sign anything if it meant getting rid of Obamacare.”

February 2018: Kimmel criticizes the Trump Administration over gun-safety laws

After a mass shooting at Parkland High School in Florida killed 17 people, Kimmel made a direct plea to Trump on what he thought needed to be done to address gun violence in the U.S.

Kimmel first played his audience a clip of Trump reacting to the shooting, in which the President said: “No parent should have to fear for their sons and daughters when they kiss them goodbye in the morning.”

“Here’s what you do to fix that… tell your buddies in Congress... all the family men who care so much about their communities, that what we need are laws, real laws, that do everything possible to keep assault rifles out of the hands of people who are going to shoot our kids. Go on TV and tell them to do that,” Kimmel said.

After applause, the comedian continued: “That is a perfect example of the common sense you [Trump] said you were going to bring to the White House… Don’t you dare let anyone say it’s ‘too soon to be talking about it,’ you say that after every one of these fatal school shootings… children are being murdered.”

March 2024: Trump offers harsh review of Kimmel’s Oscar-hosting abilities mid-show. Kimmel proceeds to read it out live on-air

Toward the close of the Oscars ceremony in 2024, repeat host Kimmel announced that he wanted to share a “review” of his performance. But it hadn’t come from one of the hundreds of TV critics avidly watching the show, instead it came from Trump.

“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,” Kimmel read aloud, looking at Trump’s social media post on his cell phone.

Trump signed off his less-than-stellar review with his trademark “Make America Great Again” slogan. 

Kimmel hit back, referencing Trump’s high-profile hush-money trial. “Thank you for watching,” he said. “I’m surprised you’re still up, isn’t it past your jail time?”

The moment has become a talking point once more, as Trump posted a video of the Oscars clip on Thursday, amid much talk over Kimmel’s suspension.

“Just before [the] announcement of the Best Picture of the Year, [Kimmel] felt that he had to respond to a truth put out by me toward the end of the show,” Trump said, going on to claim that Kimmel’s wife and agent had “begged” him not to do it.

July 2025: Trump warns Kimmel he’s “next” after the cancellation of Colbert’s show. Kimmel responds by referencing Jeffrey Epstein

The cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night TV talk show in July was said to be down to “financial reasons” but came soon after he ridiculed CBS’ parent company, Paramount, over its $16 million legal settlement with Trump over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. 

After Colbert’s cancellation, Trump took to Truth Social with a number of celebratory messages, claiming to know that Kimmel was “next” in the firing line.

“The word is, and it’s a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented late-night sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, [Jimmy] Fallon will be gone,” Trump said. “These are people with absolutely no talent, who were paid millions of dollars for, in all cases, destroying what used to be great television. It’s really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it!"

In response, Kimmel uploaded a screenshot of Trump’s post on his Instagram account with the caption: “I’m hearing you’re next. Or maybe it’s just another wonderful secret.” in reference to a birthday message allegedly written by the President to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Kimmel had referenced the birthday note before, when Trump initially celebrated Colbert’s cancellation.

The late-night host posted an image of himself and his family attending a “Good Trouble” protest. (The anti-Trump Administration nationwide protests that were held in honor of the late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis.)

Kimmel and his family held placards that read “Make America Good Again” and “I wish we had a better President.” But it was the comedian’s caption that caught people’s attention, as he made reference to the alleged Epstein note.

“Summer family vacation! #goodtrouble,” Kimmel said, adding: “May every day be another wonderful secret.”

September 2025: Trump celebrates Kimmel's brief suspension over Charlie Kirk remark

Kimmel mocked Trump for his response to a reporter’s question over the assassination of influential conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

When Trump’s response focused on construction of the White House ballroom rather than the conservative commentator's death, Kimmel joked: “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend… This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.” The comedian then went on to say that the “MAGA gang” was trying to “score political points” following Kirk’s assassination.

The reaction was swift. Following his comments, ABC announced it would suspend Kimmel’s show indefinitely. “Great news for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is cancelled,” the President posted on Truth Social in response. “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”

Trump also took aim at other talk show hosts. “Kimmel has zero talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy [Fallon] and Seth [Meyers], two total losers,” he said.

Experts warned that ABC’s decision came after pressure from the Trump Administration, with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr threatening regulatory action against the network just hours before its decision.

Trump continued to lash out at Kimmel following his show’s suspension, saying the comedian made “a total fool of himself” when hosting the 2024 Academy Awards.

Kimmel was supported by his fellow late-night hosts. Seth Meyers accused the Trump Administration of “pursuing a crackdown on free speech" while Stephen Colbert described the decision as “blatant censorship.”

Colbert saw his own show canceled by CBS in July due to financial reasons, according to the network. But others voiced concerns that it was instead done due to pressure from the Trump Administration, especially given the timing. The cancellation was announced days after Colbert, in his opening monologue, addressed how CBS’ parent company, Paramount, had reached a $16 million settlement with Trump over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Colbert called the settlement a “big fat bribe,” referencing the then-pending sale of Paramount to Skydance Media, which required the approval of the Trump Administration. Trump has celebrated the cancellation of Colbert's show, which is set to air its final episode in May 2026.