Jimmy Kimmel Thanks Trump for Watching Live After President Calls for Him to Be Fired: ‘It’s Viewers Like You Who Keep Us on the Air’

Jimmy Kimmel had a sharp response after President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of the late-night host and suggested he should be taken off the air.

During the Thursday, Nov. 20 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel, 58, said he started his day by learning about yet another overnight post from Trump, 79.

“A special hello to those of you who are watching from the White House,” Kimmel told viewers, adding, “and you know who you are.”

He recounted waking up to the news when his wife showed him the president’s latest message. “She goes, ‘Um, Trump tweeted you should be fired again,’” Kimmel said. His reaction was more bemused than rattled: “I was like, ‘Oh.’ And then I went downstairs and made bagels for the kids.”

Kimmel then read Trump’s post aloud, in which the president questioned why ABC continues to air the show, calling Kimmel talentless, complaining about ratings, and accusing the network of biased coverage. Kimmel joked about the timing, noting that Trump posted it just after midnight, shortly after the show ended on the East Coast.

“He watches us live,” Kimmel said. “Hi, Mr. President. How are you? Thanks for watching us on TV instead of on YouTube. We appreciate that. And I’ll tell you, it’s viewers like you who keep us on the air, ironically.”

The host also mocked Trump for taking time to comment about the show while the administration faces intense scrutiny and controversy, including the impending release of the Epstein files. Kimmel reminded viewers that Trump has tried to get him removed before. “It didn’t work!” he said.

Turning the moment into a punchline, Kimmel addressed Trump directly: “Mr. President, I admire your tenacity. If you’re watching tonight, which I presume you are, how about this? I’ll go when you go.” He added that they could “ride off into the sunset together,” likening the idea to an old-school buddy-movie exit.

He closed the exchange with another jab that referenced Trump’s recent insult toward a female reporter, borrowing the president’s phrasing in a final crack: “Quiet Piggy.”

Since returning to the air in late September — after a brief suspension tied to comments he made following Charlie Kirk’s death — Kimmel has continued leaning into political comedy, frequently targeting Trump and other conservatives. He’s also taken aim at Vice President JD Vance, teasing him on air with the nickname “Vice President Maybelline.”

Still, Kimmel has said he would be willing to host the president. Speaking at a Bloomberg panel on Oct. 8, he noted, “I’d love to have Trump on the show, for sure.”

During that conversation, Kimmel also explained why politics have become a bigger part of his monologues. He said it’s partly a matter of growing into the role and partly the reality of the news cycle.

“This is a very different situation that we’re in now,” he said, adding that his job is to cover the day’s biggest stories — and that Trump’s constant public presence makes him a regular topic. “He’s on TV all day, every day, so he gives us a lot to use, to deal with. That’s unusual. That’s not how it used to be.”