Jimmy Kimmel made history as the first late-night host to tackle the fallout of the 2026 midterm elections in his show on Tuesday night. While most major late-night programs opted for pre-taped episodes due to the election, Kimmel’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! adjusted its schedule to provide commentary on the early election returns.
Kimmel’s Take on Election Night
Amid a surprising political landscape where Democrats were projected to win both the House and the Senate, Kimmel was quick to respond to these historic victories in states like Georgia, Texas, Ohio, South Carolina, and Kansas. The change in Kimmel’s taping schedule allowed him to deliver sharp humor and insightful commentary about the unfolding results.
Targeting Trump
Kimmel’s monologue featured a series of jabs aimed at Donald Trump, with whom he has long had a contentious relationship. Early on, Kimmel noted Trump’s unusual preoccupation with complimenting various individuals’ physical appearances, quipping, “It seems to be after all the talk about Nicki Minaj’s ass, Jon Husted’s ass, the only ass on Trump’s mind tonight is the one that just got handed to him.”
He also revisited an infamous and false rumor about Vice President J.D. Vance, stating, “The Democrats took so many seats, J.D. Vance can’t even find one to have sex with him.” Kimmel further teased Trump by suggesting he spent the day watching Fox News coverage of the election results, “trying to give himself an insurrection.”
Imagining Trump’s Reaction
In true late-night fashion, Kimmel painted a vivid picture of Trump’s evening, joking, “Word from the inside the White House is he’s already run out of dipping sauce containers to throw at the television set.” He humorously added, “Man, oh man, would I hate to be the Door Dash driver who delivers Trump his Papa John’s tonight?”
Election Recap and Farewell
As Kimmel wrapped up his segment, he provided updates on the results of key races and paid homage to outgoing House Speaker Mike Johnson with a compilation of some of his funniest moments, blending humor with a touch of nostalgia for the political figures involved.
This is part of The Hollywood Reporter’s ongoing midterm coverage. You can check out all of our pieces here.
