“Please, give the people what they want for once,” the late-night host encouraged the president.

Jimmy Kimmel urges Trump to let him host White House Correspondents’ Dinner: ‘I’ll give you a brand-new award’

"Please, give the people what they want for once," the late-night host encouraged the president.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

EW's editorial guidelines

March 4, 2026 1:19 p.m. ET

Jimmy Kimmel; Donald Trump. Credit:

Disney/Randy Holmes; Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty

Jimmy Kimmel is asking President Donald Trump to please, please, pretty please let him host the next White House Correspondents’ Dinner. **

The late-night host, 58, made his case to Trump, 79, after the Republican politician announced earlier this week that he will be attending this year’s event for the very first time as president. **

“The White House Correspondents Association has asked me, very nicely, to be the Honoree at this year’s Dinner, a long and storied tradition since it began in 1924, under then President Calvin Coolidge,” Trump wrote in part on Monday. “In honor of our Nation’s 250th Birthday, and the fact that these ‘Correspondents’ now admit that I am truly one of the Greatest Presidents in the History of our Country, the G.O.A.T., according to many, it will be my Honor to accept their invitation, and work to make it the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER, OF ANY KIND, EVER!”

Jimmy Kimmel hosts 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'.

Disney/Randy Holmes

Kimmel reacted to Trump’s announcement — and shared why he believes he’s actually the perfect person to serve as host — on Tuesday’s episode of his talk show. **

“The dinner is traditionally hosted by a comedian,” he explained. “Al Franken hosted it. Ray Romano, Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, Conan [O’Brien], Wanda Sykes. I googled it this morning — turns out I even hosted it back in 2012.” **

However, Kimmel noted that this year’s dinner is breaking tradition by having author and mentalist Oz Pearlman emcee the event instead.

Jimmy Kimmel trolls 'Nostradumb-ass' Donald Trump with past predictions about Iran war

Donald Trump debuts new skin condition, White House doctor explains

“This year, I guess Trump didn’t want to be made fun of by a comedian, so the host is a mentalist,” he said. “We’ll have a mentalist and a mental case onstage together.”**

And while Kimmel called Pearlman an “amazing performer” who will definitely “be able to predict what Trump isn’t thinking,” he admitted that the choice “feels like a cop out to me.” **

So much so that Kimmel decided to “address the president directly” about the issue.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.*****

“Mr. President, please let me host this dinner,” he said. “I’ve never asked you for anything, but can you imagine you, me, the commissioner of the FCC, all at a table together? Think of the ratings!”**

He’s not above a little bribery, either. “I’ll even throw in an award,” Kimmel said. “You like awards — I’ll give you a brand-new award! The Correspondy! The Dondy Correspondy! No one will ever get it besides you.”

He continued, “Please, give the people what they want for once. This is our destiny together. You and me. Think about it. Let’s make it the greatest, hottest, most spectacular dinner of any kind ever!” **

Kimmel acknowledged that Trump might not want him to take over hosting duties because he’s “worried I’ll make fun of his blotches,” referencing the reddened and scaly skin condition spotted recently on the president’s neck. “I don’t know,” he added.

Watch Kimmel's hosting pitch in the clip above.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Talk”