Jimmy Kimmel trolls Trump, nabs one of his 'favorites' to host show
Jimmy Kimmel trolls Trump, nabs one of his 'favorites' to host show
Patrick Ryan, USA TODAYFri, June 19, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC
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You really thought Jimmy Kimmel would go away quietly?
On Thursday, June 18, the outspoken late-night host signed off from ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" as he prepares to take a summer break.
"I will be taking the next two months off – this time voluntarily," Kimmel joked in his opening monologue, referencing his weeklong suspension last fall following controversial remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
During his absence from TV this summer, Kimmel announced a star-studded roster of guest hosts that will be filling in for him, including Tiffany Haddish, Colman Domingo, Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Anderson and Jelly Roll.
Jimmy Kimmel, left, and President Donald Trump have sparred back and forth over the years.
"As a special treat for our commander-in-chief, I asked one of his all-time favorites, Rosie O'Donnell, to be here," Kimmel said. "All I ask in return, Mr. President, is that you don't do anything stupid while I'm gone, OK?"
O'Donnell and Kimmel have both been longtime critics of President Donald Trump, who has feuded with each of them publicly. Last year, Trump threatened to revoke O'Donnell's U.S. citizenship, while in April, the president called yet again for ABC to fire Kimmel.
More: Rosie O'Donnell speaks out about visiting her daughter in prison
Jimmy Kimmel fights Matt Damon, taunts Larry David over family's slavery ties
Speaking of rifts, Matt Damon scored another point in his long-running "feud" with Kimmel during the June 18 episode. "The Odyssey" star crashed "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in an apropos Trojan horse, which was wheeled into the studio.
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"I didn't order a horse!" Kimmel informed a UPS delivery man.
Damon then popped out of the contraption, proclaiming, "I am here, baby! I have traveled far and wide, through waves and war, to save this audience from mediocrity."
"What is this?" Kimmel playfully exclaimed. "This is trespassing! This is another crime you've committed here!"
"Your face is a crime," Damon fired back spitefully before the two men engaged in a mock fight with pool noodles.
Later in the episode, Kimmel was joined by comedian Larry David and "Finding Your Roots" host Henry Louis Gates Jr., who revealed to David that his great-great-grandfather once owned slaves. Gates also shared that Kimmel had relatives from Germany.
"But, just for the record," Kimmel said. "My family never had any slaves, whereas Larry's family were slaveowners."
"Oh," David retorted with a laugh, "I guess that makes you better than me, right?"
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jimmy Kimmel trolls Donald Trump with host news before summer break
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
