Jimmy Kimmel Rips Into Trump Over America’s “Painful” State — and the Punchline Cuts Deep.NH

Jimmy Kimmel‘s got the jokes.

The late-night host poked fun at everything from President Donald Trump to his own eponymous show getting suspended while hosting Selena Gomez’s 3rd annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Oct. 27, 2025; Jimmy Kimmel at Selena Gomez’s Third Annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit in Los Angeles on Oct. 29, 2025.

In a video from the event shared by TMZ, Kimmel began his remarks by thanking Gomez, of whom he said, “Everyone says you are the best, the nicest, the kindest, the most generous and all that stuff, and I have to say I believe it.”

He continued, “I’m excited to be here,” before joking, “Honestly after the month I’ve had, I’m excited to be anywhere. I was this close to starting an OnlyFans.”Selena Gomez and Jimmy Kimmel attend the 3rd annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit on Oct. 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.

Amy Sussman/Getty 

Last month, ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live from the air for six days following pressure from the Trump administration, and after affiliate groups Nexstar and Sinclair preempted it, all prompted by remarks the host made about the suspect identified in the Sept. 10 shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

Selena Gomez and Jimmy Kimmel attend the 3rd annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit on Oct. 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.

Trump blasted the network for reinstating Kimmel after his temporary suspension. “Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings.”

Kimmel’s return to air on Sept. 23 marked the highest viewership the show had seen in a decade.

At the fundraiser, which supported Gomez’s mental health nonprofit, Kimmel then turned his sights on the current administration, joking, “We have a very special event for you tonight filled with moving stories from amazing organizations that our president wants to defund.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump on May 12, 2025.

He added, “This work the Rare Impact Fund does is needed now more than ever. It’s very painful to see what’s happening in our country right now, and we’re not even allowed to take Tylenol for it.” (Since Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. controversially claimed at a Sept. 22 press conference that autism is caused by prenatal exposure to Tylenol, Kimmel has made several jokes about the medication on his show.)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump on May 12, 2025.

On a more serious note, Kimmel went on to praise Gomez’s foundation for “the progress this organization has made in mental health care.”

The TV star concluded his speech by noting the night was aiming to raise $100 million for mental health resources, and making a sweet joke at the expense of Gomez and her new husband, Benny Blanco, who tied the knot Sept. 27. “By the way, if you forgot to get Selena and Benny a wedding gift, great way to make up for it,” he suggested while calling for donations.