“Let me tell you, that was the worst Taco Tuesday of my whole life,” the Jimmy Kimmel Live host said at the top of his monologue Wednesday night, less than 24 hours after Donald Trump won the election. “We had the choice between a prosecutor and a criminal, and we chose the criminal to be President of the United States. More than half of this country voted for the criminal who is planning to pardon himself for his crimes.”
This is Trump’s third Presidential election. He won in 2016 and lost in 2020 to Joe Biden.
“Donald Trump is like the Emperor from Star Wars: he’s old, he’s evil, and he keeps coming back with no reasonable explanation whatsoever,” Kimmel quipped.
Referencing the aftermath of the 2020 election when Trump refused to accept the outcome, Kimmel noted, “Kamala Harris called Trump today. She conceded and then explained what the word conceded means.”
At one point, Kimmel turned serious — and visibly emotional — with his voice cracking as he listed the possible consequences from Trump winning a second term.
“Let’s be honest. It was a terrible night last night,” he said. “It was a terrible night for women, for children, for the hundreds of thousands of hard working immigrants who make this country go, for health care, for our climate, for science, for journalism, for justice, for free speech. It was a terrible night for poor people, for the middle class, for seniors who rely on Social Security, for our allies in Ukraine, for NATO, for the truth and democracy and decency.
“And it was a terrible night for everyone who voted against him. And guess what? It was a bad night for everyone who voted for him, too. You just don’t realize it yet.”
Kimmel has been a frequent target of Trump, especially after the late-night comedian called out the former (and now future) President at the Oscars earlier this year.
That was not lost on Kimmel who was seen packing his office in the cold open for tonight’s episode, telling Guillermo he was leaving the country.
“I can’t stay for another four years of this,” he said, noting that he likely is on Trump’s enemies list.
Guillermo urged him to stay: “We need you to help us get through this; you have a very important voice.”
Kimmel eventually agreed, admitting, You’re right, I need to stay here. We have unfinished business.”
Watch the cold open and the monologue above.