TV host Jimmy Kimmel responded with his signature wit and irony to President Donald Trump after Trump once again demanded that ABC network terminate Kimmel's show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
During Thursday night's monologue, Kimmel reacted to the president's remarks with a sarcastic jab that drew hearty laughs from the audience.
"I'll leave when you do, okay? We'll be a team. Let's ride off into the sunset together like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," the comedian quipped, eliciting applause and laughter from the studio crowd.
Kimmel followed up his retort with a line borrowed from Trump himself: "And until then, if I might borrow a phrase from you... silence, little pig."
This exchange occurred after Trump took to social media once more to criticize Kimmel and demand his dismissal, accusing him of "disrespect" and a "liberal bias." It's not the first instance of the president targeting the host, who has been a vocal critic since Trump's initial term.
In previous posts, Trump labeled Kimmel as "a talentless failure" and accused ABC of keeping him on air solely for political reasons.
The comedian has consistently turned the president's statements into material for his show, which many analysts see as a symbolic clash between the White House and American political satire.
The relationship between Trump and Kimmel has been strained for years. The host has frequently mocked the president, mimicking his speaking style and social media posts, while Trump has retaliated by calling him "an enemy of the people" and "a third-rate commentator."
On one occasion, Kimmel humorously remarked that Trump "watches his show every night, even though he claims to detest it," a claim the president has not openly denied. This time, Kimmel pointed out that Trump's tweet was sent at 12:30 am, coinciding with his show's broadcast time.
In his Thursday night show, Kimmel reiterated that political satire is an integral part of democracy: "Humor is freedom. If a president can't take a joke, he shouldn't be in office," he concluded with a smile.
Back in September, Kimmel was briefly suspended by the network but returned weeks later due to the national attention the incident garnered.
Jimmy Kimmel vs. Donald Trump: Key Questions Answered
Why did Donald Trump want Jimmy Kimmel fired?
Donald Trump demanded Jimmy Kimmel's firing due to what he perceived as "disrespect" and a "liberal bias" in Kimmel's critiques and jokes about him.
How did Jimmy Kimmel respond to Trump's firing demand?
Jimmy Kimmel responded with humor and sarcasm, joking that he would leave his show when Trump leaves the presidency, likening their departure to a cinematic duo riding into the sunset.
Has Trump criticized Kimmel in the past?
Yes, Trump has previously labeled Kimmel as "a talentless failure" and accused ABC of keeping him on air for political purposes. The tension between them has been ongoing for years.