Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel openly embraced accusations of having “Trump Derangement Syndrome” during a recent interview. The ABC host said that “reasonable” people should have strong negative reactions to President Donald Trump, calling him both “dangerous” and “stupid.” What role does Kimmel play in creating the broader public perception of Trump?
Kimmel Embraces “Trump Derangement Syndrome” Label
Jimmy Kimmel made headlines after appearing on MSNBC’s Morning Joe with host Joe Scarborough, where he candidly discussed his feelings about President Donald Trump. During the interview, Kimmel not only acknowledged but seemed to embrace accusations that he suffers from “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” a term commonly used by conservatives to describe what they see as irrational hatred of the president.
“I laugh when people say you have Trump derangement syndrome,” Kimmel told Scarborough. “If you’re a reasonable person, you should have Trump derangement syndrome.”
NEW: Late night host Jimmy Kimmel tells MSNBC's Joe Scarborough he has “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
Kimmel’s admission follows years of anti-Trump rants, revealing just how consumed the media has become with President Ttrump.
"If you’re a reasonable person you should have… pic.twitter.com/qzxWGXal9M
— Hank™ (@HANKonX) October 23, 2024
Kimmel’s Harsh Assessment
The ABC host didn’t hold back in his criticism of the president, using stark language to describe his concerns about Trump. “The fact of the matter is this is a dangerous person, this is a stupid person, and that’s a bad combination,” Kimmel declared during the MSNBC interview.
Kimmel attempted to position his views as reasonable rather than extreme, claiming he remains “optimistic” and “not hysterical” despite his strongly worded critique. He further suggested that Trump himself suffers from a form of derangement syndrome, stating, “And, by the way, I think he has derangement syndrome about us!”
2018. Jimmy Kimmel says that if Diddy runs for President, he wants to be his running mate.
Perfect match. pic.twitter.com/WHD9VvNpHF
— MAZE (@mazemoore) March 26, 2024
History of Anti-Trump Comedy
This is far from the first time Kimmel has used his platform to criticize the president. The late-night host has made Trump a central target of his comedy since Trump’s first presidential campaign, dedicating significant portions of his monologues to criticizing the Republican politician.
Author Stephen King expressed support for Kimmel’s comments on social media, highlighting how the host’s stance resonates with many in Hollywood and literary circles. Previously, Kimmel sparked controversy when he joked that an accused sex trafficker would make a better president than Trump, demonstrating the extreme nature of his opposition to the president.
Critics of Kimmel and other late-night hosts have accused them of abandoning balanced comedy in favor of becoming partisan political commentators. The divide illustrates the broader polarization in American entertainment, where comedians and hosts increasingly take strong political positions rather than aiming for broader appeal across the political spectrum.