Full Breakdown
Trump’s Threats to Late-Night Hosts and Jimmy Kimmel’s Counterattack
6/3/2026, 11:53:34 PM
Feud Overview
On June 1, former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had “taken out many bad Political ‘Leaders’ and Pundits,” naming “REALLY DUMB Stephen Colbert of CBS” and warning that three “limping Late Night Talk Show Hosts,” including Bill Maher, would follow. Jimmy Kimmel responded by mocking Trump’s swollen ankles (“cankles”) with a photo and a quip that they resembled “a shoe on a balloon animal made of sausage links.” Kimmel claimed the feud cost ABC billions. The feud began in April 2026 when Trump demanded Disney fire Kimmel after a joke about Melania as an “expectant widow”; ABC declined and Kimmel defended the segment as a “very light roast.” CBS said Colbert’s cancellation was for financial reasons, and Kimmel’s show was briefly pulled in September after a network threat.
Trump’s Social-Media Activity
Trump’s Truth Social activity intensified in May 2026, with 861 posts recorded—an average of 27 posts per day—according to Kimmel’s count. White House physicians have attributed Trump’s swollen ankles to chronic venous insufficiency.
Official Statements & Responses
- Trump (Truth Social, June 1): claimed personal responsibility for Stephen Colbert’s removal and warned that other “limping” hosts would be targeted.
- Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!, June 2): dismissed the threats, mocked Trump’s “cankles,” and said the dispute cost ABC billions.
- Kimmel (Peabody acceptance, May 31): stressed the constitutional right to satirize leaders, declaring “making jokes about the president in America shouldn’t win you a prize.”
- Network responses: ABC refused to fire Kimmel; CBS stated Colbert’s cancellation was for financial reasons; White House doctors linked Trump’s swollen ankles to chronic venous insufficiency.
Criticism & Opposition
Media analysts view Trump’s threats as an attempt to intimidate journalists and entertainers, raising concerns about First-Amendment erosion. CBS’s financial explanation for Colbert’s exit contradicts Trump’s claim of political influence, and Kimmel’s “billions” cost claim remains unverified.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Cancellation of Stephen Colbert: Trump says he caused the exit; CBS attributes it to financial reasons; no third-party evidence confirms either claim.
- Financial impact on ABC & health of Trump: Kimmel’s “billions” loss claim is unsubstantiated; White House doctors cite chronic venous insufficiency for Trump’s swollen ankles, yet public speculation continues.
Verbatim Quotes
- “taken out many bad Political 'Leaders' and Pundits” — Donald Trump, Truth Social
- “But the day after Colbert's last show, Trump posted on Truth Social that "Colbert's firing from CBS was the 'Beginning of the End' for untalented, nasty, highly overpaid, not funny, and very poorly rated Late Night Television Hosts.” — Donald Trump, Truth Social
- “Making jokes about the president in America shouldn’t win you a prize,” — Jimmy Kimmel, Peabody acceptance
- “I'm not sure I'd be calling us limping when you've got cankles like this, honey,” — Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
