Kimmel Interviews Ringo Starr
Oh boy, where to even start with this one? Jimmy Kimmel took the stage Monday night with what can only be described as a full arsenal of punchlines aimed straight at Donald Trump’s second inauguration. And let’s be honest—if there’s one thing late-night hosts live for, it’s moments like this: the kind that practically write their own material.
Now, according to Kimmel, this whole thing was, in his words, “our long national nightmare being sworn in.” Dramatic? Sure. But subtlety has never really been his style. And if you thought the jokes would let up after that, well, buckle in.
Kimmel wasted no time reminding his audience of the elephant in the room—Trump’s criminal conviction. “It’s still pretty hard to wrap your head around,” he said, shaking his head at the idea that a convicted felon was now, once again, Commander-in-Chief. But hey, if there’s one thing Trump knows how to do, it’s turn every situation—good, bad, or legally questionable—into a business opportunity. Enter: inauguration Bibles and a shiny new meme coin, both of which, Kimmel claimed, were already lining Trump’s pockets.
And then, just when you thought the roast was cooling down, Kimmel took a sharp turn into “Hawk Tuah” territory—yes, really. Comparing Trump’s rise back to power to the viral spitting sensation of 2024? That’s the level of pop culture collision we’re dealing with here.
Jimmy Kimmel, who is definitely not paranoid, starts his interview w/ Ringo Starr by asking if he’s “worried at all” Trump will deport him pic.twitter.com/rDOTIxWRFz
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) January 29, 2025
Now, let’s talk about the setting of this historic day. Normally, an inauguration takes place outside on the steps of the Capitol. But not this one. According to Kimmel, “they had to move the festivities indoors – which was actually better for Trump. Harder for Melania to escape.” Ouch. That one stings. But if history tells us anything, it’s that the late-night circuit has been ruthless when it comes to the Trumps’ marriage.
Still, despite the heated political climate, tradition wasn’t completely abandoned. In fact, Kimmel pointed out that this time around, Joe and Jill Biden actually welcomed Trump and Melania to the White House—something Trump flatly refused to do for Biden back in 2021. And of course, he couldn’t resist taking a jab at Kamala Harris, joking that she invited JD Vance over to the Vice President’s residence “for a ceremonial humping of the Millard Fillmore futon.” Yep. That happened.
Mike Pence, meanwhile, made an appearance—but, as Kimmel noted, without his wife Karen. “She opted not to celebrate the man who was all good with a bunch of yahoos killing her husband.” A little dark, sure, but when has that ever stopped late-night TV?
And then came the speech. If anyone was expecting a grand, unifying address, Kimmel quickly shut that down. “More ominous than I anticipated,” he said, dubbing Trump “Emperor Palpateeny Hands”—a Star Wars reference that, let’s be honest, was inevitable. According to Kimmel, the speech was neither uplifting nor particularly well-written, featuring a repeat declaration that “the Golden Age of America begins right now.” (Twice, in fact.) As for the landslide victory Trump kept bragging about? Yeah… not exactly.
KIMMEL: “Are you worried at all?”
STARR: “No.”
KIMMEL: “You’re not? Why not?”
STARR: “Why would I be worried?”
KIMMEL: “You know, they’re knocking on doors.” https://t.co/rpYPAAixJx— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) January 29, 2025
Kimmel also zeroed in on the who’s who of billionaires in attendance, making the case that Trump wasn’t just entertaining elites—he was auctioning off the country to them. “It really has been amazing to watch these powerful men, who don’t need to ever make another dollar in their lives, debasing themselves to suck up to this ridiculous person,” he said.
And despite all the pomp and ceremony, Kimmel got the distinct impression that Trump wasn’t really enjoying himself. “I don’t think he likes being in front of an audience that isn’t also there to see Kid Rock,” he joked, pointing out how subdued the former reality star seemed, quietly reading from the teleprompter. Maybe, Kimmel speculated, he was just tired from all the winning.
Of course, no Trump presidency would be complete without a flurry of executive orders, and this time was no different. Kimmel was quick to call out Republican hypocrisy, reminding viewers how they used to lose their minds over Barack Obama’s use of executive orders. “Remember how angry Republicans used to get when a Democrat President issued an executive order?” he asked. “Neither do they.”