Donald Trump has branded Jimmy Kimmel “horrible” in his latest swipe at the late-night TV host.

The 79-year-old president is set to host the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday (07.12.25) and at a pre-ceremony event at the Oval Office in Washington on Saturday (06.12.25), Trump took aim at Kimmel.

Speaking at the 48th Kennedy Center Honors Medallion Reception, Trump said: “I’ve watched some of the people that host, Jimmy Kimmel was horrible. If I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent then I don’t think I should be President.”

Kimmel hasn’t actually hosted the prestigious ceremony before, but he did pay tribute to David Letterman in 2012.

The pair previously came to blows after Trump gloated when Jimmy Kimmel Live! was taken off air following remarks the host had made about the killing of Charlie Kirk.

Trump posted on his Truth Social platform at the time: “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED.

“Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible.”

Less than a week later, ABC confirmed the return of the programme, prompting the president to ask why they wanted “someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99 per cent positive Democrat GARBAGE.”

Last month, Kimmel told the world leader that “I’ll go when you go”.

The 58-year-old talk show host – whose programme was briefly pulled off air in September – opened his show with a special message for “the angry orange” after the US politician called for him to be fired.

He said: “A special hello to those watching from the White House. And you know who you are!

“I woke up this morning, I’m in bed. My wife comes out of the bathroom. She’s got her phone. She goes, ‘Um, Trump tweeted you should be fired again.’ I was like, ‘Oh.’ And then I went downstairs and made bagels for the kids.

“Talk about a snowflake, this guy. Every five weeks, he flips out and wants me fired. If you got this many threats from a neighbor, you’d have no problem getting a restraining order. The judge would be like, ‘Yeah, sounds like the guy’s nuts.’”

Kimmel read out the post from Trump on his Truth Social platform.

The president wrote: “Why does ABC Fake News keep Jimmy Kimmel, a man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS, on the air?” Trump wrote. “Why do the TV Syndicates put up with it? Also, totally biased coverage. Get the bum off the air!!! (sic)”

The talk show host then said: “He posted this, I think this is interesting, at 12:49 a.m., 11 minutes after the show ended on the East Coast. Which is nice, he watches us live. 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…

“It’s also sweet that, even in the middle of the biggest sex scandal in the history of the American presidency, he takes precious time on the toilet to post about our show. Keeps saying we have bad ratings. And you should listen to him, because if anyone knows about bad ratings, it’s that guy.”

A montage was then shown of the former Apprentice star’s falling poll numbers, before Jimmy made a pledge.

He said: “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, OK? We’ll be a team. Let’s ride off into the sunset together like Butch Cassidy and the Suntan Kid. And until then, if I may borrow a phrase from you, Quiet, piggy.”