John Oliver and Seth Meyers have a theory on why Donald Trump hates Jimmy Kimmel the most
John Oliver and Seth Meyers have a theory on why Donald Trump hates Jimmy Kimmel the most
Daysia TolentinoFri, October 2, 2026 at 4:37 PM UTC
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Donald Trump; Jimmy KimmelCredit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty; Tommaso Boddi/GettyKey Points -
John Oliver and Seth Meyers joked that their shows will always be safe as long as Jimmy Kimmel is on the air.
The two comedians acknowledged that Kimmel gets the most heat from President Donald Trump.
The three late-night hosts exchanged theories on why Trump dislikes Kimmel.
There’s a fine line between love and hate.
John Oliver and Seth Meyers believe that President Donald Trump straddles that line when it comes to Jimmy Kimmel. While discussing their joint stand-up show held at the Beacon Theater in New York City, Oliver and Meyers quipped that their own late-night shows will always be “fine” as long as Kimmel’s on the air.
“You draw all the ire,” Meyers quipped while appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Liveon Thursday.
“We are fully supportive,” Oliver added. “We are fully behind you the way that we’re fully behind a bulletproof vest.”
Indeed, Kimmel has drawn much criticism from the president, whose FCC chair Brendan Carr encouraged local broadcasters to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live last year following the host’s on-air criticism of the late Charlie Kirk. ABC temporarily suspended the late-night show, which Trump celebrated.
“Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else,” Trump told reporters last September. “And he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk. Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person. He has very bad ratings and they should have fired him a long time ago.”
Now, Oliver and Meyers have a unique theory on why Kimmel seems to attract the bulk of Trump’s attention.
“Other than the fact of you don’t like him, we think he would want to hang out with you,” Meyers suggested. “I think he sees us as a couple of dorks, and even if we were fans of his, he would have no respect for us.”
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John Oliver and Seth Meyers on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ on Oct. 1Credit: Disney/Randy Holmes
Meanwhile, Kimmel had his own ideas as to why Trump gives him the most heat. He theorized that the president exclusively watches network TV and Fox News, which leaves Oliver in the clear since his show is on HBO.
As for Meyers, whom Kimmel acknowledged Trump “occasionally will get upset with,” his show might be too late for the president to watch regularly.
“Just as late as he stays up raging and tweeting and whatever it is he does, you’re on too late for him,” Kimmel said. “You’re past his bedtime.”
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Since Kimmel’s suspension and subsequent return, Trump has continued to target Kimmel, repeatedly calling on him to be fired. In April, the president hit back at the TV host after he joked that first lady Melania Trump looked like an “expectant widow.”
“When is ABC Fake News Network firing seriously unfunny Jimmy Kimmel, who incompetently presides over one of the Lowest Rated shows on Television? People are angry. It better be soon!!!” the president wrote on social media at the time.
Watch the full interview between John Oliver, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Kimmel above.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
