President Donald Trump launched a middle-of-the-night attack on television host Jimmy Kimmel, posting his criticism on Truth Social at 12:49 a.m. Thursday, November 20, 2025. The president questioned why ABC continues to air Kimmel’s show, describing him as having no talent and poor television ratings.
Trump’s post escalated to a direct demand, stating: “Get the bum off the air!!!” The late-night message came after Kimmel devoted 10 minutes of his Wednesday evening monologue to criticizing the president, touching on several sensitive subjects, including Trump’s connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was once a close friend of the president.
The timing of Trump’s social media outburst suggests he was watching television in the early morning hours, continuing a pattern of nocturnal posting that has characterized his time in office. Late-night television has long been a source of tension between political figures and comedians, with hosts using their platforms to comment on current events and presidential actions while presidents have historically had varying degrees of tolerance for such criticism.
Kimmel’s Wednesday monologue focused on Trump’s handling of the Epstein files, which Congress recently passed a bill to release. Trump signed the legislation, though Kimmel pointed out during his show that the president could have released the files at any time without congressional action. The comedian used the opportunity to deliver pointed jokes about Trump’s wealth, family relationships, and political loyalty.
The bill sailed through the Senate and House with overwhelming support and made its way to Trump’s desk. Kimmel joked that when Trump usually encounters a bill, he files for bankruptcy and skips the payment. This time, however, he put his signature on it.
Kimmel also noted that several of Trump’s closest allies went against him on this issue. He added that it was a setback for Trump, as even some of his most devoted supporters turned their backs on him.
In the House of Representatives, the bill passed 427–1. In the Senate, the bill was approved by unanimous consent (i.e., without a recorded roll-call vote).
This marks the second time within a week that Trump has targeted a late-night television host. Over the weekend, he attacked Seth Meyers on Truth Social, calling for NBC to fire the “Late Night” host immediately. The pattern suggests Trump remains highly sensitive to late-night comedy criticism despite holding the nation’s highest office.
The relationship between Trump and Kimmel has deteriorated significantly from earlier years. Trump appeared as a guest on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” three times, including an appearance in December 2015 during his first presidential campaign. However, the two have since become frequent adversaries, with Trump regularly criticizing Kimmel by name throughout the 2024 presidential campaign.
The feud intensified when ABC suspended Kimmel on September 17, 2025. The suspension came after Kimmel made comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Trump celebrated the suspension and threatened legal action against ABC when Kimmel returned to the air less than a week later.
During a press conference following the September incident, Trump stated that Kimmel should have been fired, expressing his views on the comedian’s abilities and performance. The president has maintained this position in his subsequent social media posts, consistently questioning why the network continues to broadcast Kimmel’s program.
Despite Trump’s claims about ratings, Kimmel’s show currently holds second place among viewers overall in late-night television for 2025. More significantly for advertisers, the program ranks first place in the 18-49 age demographic, a key measurement that networks use to attract advertising revenue. The demographic data contradicts Trump’s assertion that Kimmel suffers from poor television ratings.
Trump’s attacks have extended beyond Kimmel to include other late-night hosts. He has criticized Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Fallon, suggesting that NBC should follow ABC’s lead. The president’s focus on late-night television suggests these programs remain a significant source of frustration for him, particularly given their consistent mockery of his policies and personal conduct.
In addition to his attack on Kimmel, Trump posted two other messages after midnight on Wednesday. One post praised soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, who visited Trump at the White House earlier that day, describing the athlete as smart and cool. Another message claimed he had one of the 10 best opening months for a president in history, though he attributed this assessment vaguely to “most” without specifying sources.
The late-night posting pattern raises questions about the president’s sleep schedule and priorities. Presidential routines have historically been of public interest given the demanding nature of the office and the need for leaders to remain alert for potential crises. Whether Trump’s nocturnal social media activity affects his daytime responsibilities remains a topic of ongoing discussion.
