Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel found himself unexpectedly caught in the crossfire of Donald Trump's ongoing feud with comedian Trevor Noah, expressing shock after the former president took a surprise jab at him during a White House press briefing.
The drama unfolded after Noah's controversial joke at the 2026 Grammy Awards, where he quipped, "That is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland. Which makes sense, I mean, because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out on with Bill Clinton."
Trevor Noah delivers his Grammy monologue that sparked Trump's fiery response and dragged Jimmy Kimmel into the feud. Kevin Mazur/Getty
In response, Trump dismissed Noah as "a lightweight" during his press conference, but unexpectedly added, "I would say, not as bad as Jimmy Kimmel, but pretty close." Kimmel, who was watching from home, reacted with disbelief on his show: "How did I get in there!? I was at home last night minding my own business! Boy, I really got up his ass."
The feud escalated when Trump doubled down on Truth Social, threatening to sue Noah while including Kimmel in his rant: "The host, Trevor Noah, whoever he may be, is almost as bad as Jimmy Kimmel at the Low Ratings Academy Awards." Trump labeled Noah's joke "false and defamatory" and claimed he "never been to Epstein Island," while hinting at impending legal action: "Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!"
Kimmel fired back with his own observations about Trump's viewing habits: "Let me say something: Donald Trump somehow has time to watch every award show and hates them all. He doesn’t like any of them! No one I know watches more award shows than Donald Trump."
In a surprising twist, Kimmel declared he would host the Oscars again if Melania Trump's documentary earns a nomination: "Mark my words right now: if Melania gets nominated for an Oscar, I will host that show whether they ask me to or not. I will insist on it!"
The incident highlights how Trump continues to dominate entertainment news cycles, dragging unexpected figures into his public feuds while threatening legal action against comedians who mock him.
