Jimmy Kimmel Dangles Emmy for Trump—But There’s a Catch
Jimmy Kimmel cheekily offered Donald Trump one of his own awards, but only if Trump agrees to a major political demand, stirring debate after a controversial ICE shooting in Minnesota.
Jimmy Kimmel has thrown down a challenge to Donald Trump, saying he’d be happy to hand over one of his own trophies—if Trump is willing to make a big move on immigration enforcement. The late-night host made the tongue-in-cheek offer during his monologue on the 15th of January, not long after Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize in a bid to win his favour.
Kimmel couldn’t resist taking the mickey out of the situation.
“Rarely does a president yank a Nobel Prize off of someone’s neck,”
he quipped, before adding,
“He’s back in the Oval Office sucking on it like a pacifier right now. Look at how happy he is. Have you ever seen anyone happier than that for winning this prize? He didn’t even win.”
Political Tensions and a Deadly Incident
The comedian’s remarks came in the wake of a tragic event in Minnesota. On the 7th of January, Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, was shot and killed by ICE officer Jonathan Ross. The incident sparked widespread protests across the country, with many calling for the agency to be pulled out of local communities.
Against this backdrop, Kimmel suggested that the only way to get Trump to act was to offer him a prize.
“Mr President, I have an offer I think you’re going to find difficult to refuse.”
He then laid out his terms: if Trump agreed to withdraw ICE from Minneapolis and send them back to the borders, Kimmel would personally deliver one of his own awards to the White House.
Kimmel’s Award Line-Up
Kimmel wasn’t fussed about which trophy Trump might want.
“First off, the Daytime Emmy I won for Best Game Show host in 1999. That could be yours. Or perhaps you would prefer my Clio Award for my work selling crap to people? Or my Webby award—the most prestigious award the internet can give.”
He made it clear he was open to negotiation, offering up any or all of his accolades if it meant getting ICE out of Minneapolis.
Wrapping up his pitch, Kimmel addressed Trump directly:
“The choice is yours. I will personally deliver any, or even all of these, to the Oval Office in exchange for leaving the people of Minneapolis alone.”
The offer, while clearly tongue-in-cheek, highlighted the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and the lengths some are willing to go to make a point.