The tensions between Donald Trump and comedian Jimmy Kimmel are not new, but this time Kimmel has raised fresh doubts about the US president’s health. Even as Trump continues to insist that he is in good shape and claims that reports about his condition are “seditious, perhaps even treasonous,” the late-night host has become the latest to ask if all is really well.
“Our president appears to be deeply unwell, even for him,” Kimmel said on the latest episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Questioning Trump’s claims that he cleared three cognitive exams, Kimmel joked, “That means he passed the first two, and they were like ‘this can’t be right.’ Let’s give him one more.”
“Something is wrong here. The guy who is running our country is being given unscheduled dementia tests. He’s been given MRIs. He has mystery bruises that he’s covering with Maybelline. And we’re supposed to accept this idea that he’s some cross between Chris Hemsworth and Albert Einstein?,” said Kimmel, who was briefly taken off air by ABC in September, after his comments on the death of Charlie Kirk angered Trump and many Republicans.
Growing concern over Trump’s health
At 79, Trump is the oldest US President in history. Since he took office in January, rumours about his health have only increased. Photos of bruised hands, swollen ankles, and moments where he appeared to fall asleep in meetings have fed public speculation.
Reports that he underwent unscheduled cognitive tests and a recent MRI have added more questions. The White House doctor continues to claim Trump is in “excellent overall health,” but major US outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN have kept pressing for clarity.
This constant questioning has frustrated Trump. On Truth Social, he defended his record and attacked the media. “There has never been a President that has worked as hard as me! My hours are the longest, and my results are among the best. I’ve stopped Eight Wars, saving many millions of lives in the process, created the Greatest Economy in the History of our Country,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Jimmy Kimmel show suspension
Trump celebrated the suspension of Kimmel’s show in September. It came after the uproar from Trump supporters over his comments on Charlie Kirk, the right-wing activist who was shot while speaking at a Utah university on September 10. ABC said it was pulling “Jimmy Kimmel Live” indefinitely following pressure from conservative groups.
Writers, performers, former US President Barack Obama, and many others criticised the suspension, calling it a surrender to political pressure. However, the show was revoked a week later.
However, Kimmel has signed a one-year extension with Disney’s ABC Network, which keeps Jimmy Kimmel Live! on air through at least 2027, the Guardian has confirmed.
Bloomberg reported that the extension was actually agreed upon months earlier. Both Kimmel and Disney delayed the announcement out of respect for Stephen Colbert, whose own show, The Late Show, was cancelled and will end in May 2026.