In a stunning turn of events, Jimmy Kimmel, one of President Trump’s most vocal critics, found himself praising the man he’s often clashed with—and it’s all because of a historic peace deal. But here’s where it gets controversial: is this genuine progress, or just a calculated move by Trump to salvage his legacy? Let’s dive in.
During his Monday night monologue, Kimmel broke character to acknowledge something unprecedented: “What a day for Donald Trump. He finally did something positive today.” The reason? A groundbreaking peace agreement brokered by the Trump administration led to the release of 20 Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. This is the part most people miss: while Kimmel and Trump have been locked in a war of words for years—with Trump openly mocking Kimmel and even celebrating when his show faced temporary cancellation—the late-night host chose to set aside their feud to credit Trump for this achievement.
Trump himself flew to Egypt on Sunday to sign the deal, declaring, “This took 3,000 years to get to this point, can you believe it? And it’s going to hold up, too.” Kimmel couldn’t resist a jab, though, quipping, “I want to give him credit for it, because I know he’s not the type to take credit for himself.” Classic Kimmel—even in praise, there’s a hint of sarcasm.
But let’s pause for a moment. Is this deal as groundbreaking as it seems, or is it just a PR stunt? Kimmel himself admitted, “While we’re only in the first phase of what will undoubtedly be a long and tricky process, the fact is the bombing has stopped, the hostages have been released, and Trump deserves some of the praise for that.” Yet, he couldn’t resist adding a playful dig: “Good work on that one, President Trump. Now maybe you can not invade Portland.” Ouch.
The tension between Kimmel and Trump is no secret. From Trump’s repeated attacks on Kimmel’s show to Kimmel’s relentless criticism of Trump’s policies—including his controversial decision to deploy federal troops to cities like Portland—their feud has been anything but subtle. Kimmel even pleaded with Trump voters in a 2024 monologue to reconsider their support. So, why does this moment of praise feel so significant? It’s a rare instance where even the harshest critic acknowledges progress, however begrudgingly.
Later in his monologue, Kimmel couldn’t resist poking fun at Trump’s failed bid for the Nobel Peace Prize, joking, “Let him keep trying to make peace. I’m fine with coming up with prizes and trophies to motivate him. Give him the Nobel Reopen the Government and Leave Healthcare Alone Prize.” But beneath the humor lies a serious question: Does Trump’s pursuit of accolades overshadow the actual impact of his actions?
And then there’s the hypocrisy angle. Kimmel called out Trump for receiving both a flu shot and a COVID-19 booster during his annual health checkup, despite his past criticism of vaccines. “It’s like if we found out Nancy Reagan was smoking crack the whole time,” Kimmel quipped. Is this a case of ‘do as I say, not as I do,’ or just another example of political inconsistency?
So, what do you think? Does Trump deserve the praise for this peace deal, or is it too little, too late? And is Kimmel’s acknowledgment a genuine olive branch, or just another layer of satire? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—this is one conversation you won’t want to miss!
