When Jimmy Kimmel puts out a hashtag challenge, it’s usually to sow some mischief. This time, he’s trying to show how peaceful things really are.
In his monologue on Wednesday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host asked viewers to post videos with the hashtag “#ShowMeYourHellhole.” The call is a reaction to President Donald Trump sending troops into Democratic-led cities like Portland and Chicago, both of which Trump has described as “hellhole[s]” besieged by fires and war.
“Trump and his buddies on the right-wing media are talking about Portland like it’s a scene from The Last of Us,” said Kimmel, contrasting the narrative with videos of costumed Portlanders dancing to the YMCA.
“Not only is this incredibly dangerous and unnecessary, it’s also just dumb,” Kimmel cautioned. “Trump is reportedly seriously considering invoking the Insurrection Act, a law from 1807 that would allow him to use the military to enforce his rules.”
While there is no apparent evidence to back up Trump’s allegations of chaos, Kimmel hopes direct video submissions from users will help reverse the apparently false narrative.
“I think it’s important that we know what is really going on,” Kimmel told viewers. “So if you live in Portland, Chicago, Memphis, D.C.—any of the cities where Trump is sending in the National Guard to protect you from… squirrels, I don’t know—we want to see it. We want to see all the horror the administration is defending you from.”
Viewers are asked to upload videos of their “war-torn communities” to YouTube using the hashtag “#ShowMeYourHellhole.” The Jimmy Kimmel Live! team may reach out to users to feature their videos in a future episode of the show.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! closes out the week with one more new episode tonight, then returns Monday for another round of fresh shows.
