what did jimmy kimmel do
Jimmy Kimmel hasn’t been “caught” in a new scandal; he’s currently in the news mainly for his political monologues, his clashes with regulators, and his jokes about Donald Trump and Melania Trump.
What did Jimmy Kimmel do?
1. Still hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- Kimmel remains the host of ABC’s late‑night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! , airing weeknights at 11:35 p.m. EST.
- Recent schedules show regular episodes with celebrity guests like Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Kaley Cuoco, and even Kermit the Frog.
2. Strong monologues on Trump, ICE, and Minnesota
- Kimmel has delivered very pointed monologues about President Donald Trump’s current administration, especially over events in Minneapolis and the conduct of ICE.
- He criticized what he described as “vile, heartless and even criminal” actions by ICE in the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti and the wider crackdown on protesters in Minnesota.
- In another January 2026 segment, he mocked Trump’s talk of using the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, the violent police response to protests, and Trump’s claims that demonstrators are “paid.”
3. Clash with the FCC over “equal time”
- Kimmel recently called out the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and specifically Trump‑appointed chair Brendan Carr, over new threats tied to “equal time” rules for political candidates on talk shows.
- He said the FCC is trying to reinterpret long‑standing exemptions for talk shows in a way that could stop programs like Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The View from interviewing candidates, calling it an “assault on free speech” and a tactic to silence critical voices.
- He pointed to past examples of candidates appearing on late‑night shows without triggering these rules, arguing that talk‑show interviews have historically been treated as news programming.
4. Ripping into the Melania documentary
- In a late‑January monologue, Kimmel “savaged” Amazon MGM’s new documentary Melania , directed by Brett Ratner, which follows Melania Trump as she prepares to return to the White House ahead of Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
- He joked about reports that Melania is upset her documentary is being overshadowed by the killings in Minneapolis and called the film a “75 million‑dollar bribe,” referencing the reported acquisition and marketing costs around the documentary.
- Kimmel also mocked Melania’s media appearances promoting unity, responding with his typical heavy sarcasm.
5. Ongoing political comedy in 2026
- Kimmel has kept up a stream of segments targeting Trump’s behavior early in 2026, including Trump’s anger over Nobel Peace Prize issues, threats toward Scandinavia, and talk of “skipping” future elections.
- He even did a bit about Trump showing off a planned 400‑million‑dollar ballroom and a new “Independence Arch” on the National Mall while crises play out elsewhere, using it to underline how out of touch he sees the administration.
Quick HTML facts table (for your “Quick Scoop” format)
| Topic | What Jimmy Kimmel did | When |
|---|---|---|
| Late-night hosting | Continues to host Jimmy Kimmel Live! with regular celebrity guests and musical acts. | [1]Ongoing, including week of Jan 26, 2026 | [1]
| ICE & Minneapolis | Delivered a serious monologue condemning ICE’s role in the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti and the broader crackdown in Minneapolis. | [2]Segment posted Jan 27, 2026 | [2]
| Trump & 2026 politics | Mocked Trump over use of the Insurrection Act, violent crackdowns on protests, Nobel Peace Prize drama, and threats about future elections. | [8][5]Mid–January 2026 | [5][8]
| Fight with FCC | Attacked FCC chair Brendan Carr over new “equal time” threats that could limit candidate interviews on talk shows, calling it an attack on free speech. | [7][3]Late January 2026 | [3]
| Melania documentary | Ripped Amazon’s Melania documentary as a pricey PR piece and joked about Melania’s reported frustration that Minneapolis events overshadowed the film. | [9][4]Monologue aired Jan 28, 2026 | [4][9]
Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
