The White House is firing back at Jimmy Kimmel after the late-night host took aim at Donald Trump while presenting at Sunday night’s Academy Awards.
Steven Cheung, the White House Director of Communications, blasted the late-night host in a sharply worded post on X following Kimmel’s appearance at the ceremony.
“Jimmy Kimmel (Mr. Blackface) is a classless hack who is self-projecting his depression and sadness onto others,” Cheung wrote from his official Trump administration account. “He lives a pathetic existence where nobody—not even his family—enjoys his miserable company. The only people giving him any attention are Hollywood Elites. BUH-BYE!”
Cheung’s comments came hours after Kimmel appeared at the Oscars to present the awards for Documentary Short and Documentary Feature.
As we reported earlier, the four-time Oscars host used his time onstage at the Dolby Theatre to slip in a few familiar targets. Introducing the documentary category, Kimmel spoke about the risks faced by filmmakers covering authoritarian regimes.
“We hear a lot about courage at shows like this, but telling a story that could get you killed for telling it—that’s real courage,” Kimmel said. “As you know, there are some countries whose leaders don’t support free speech.”
He then added, “I’m not at liberty to say which. Let’s just leave it at North Korea and CBS,” drawing applause from the audience.
Jimmy Kimmel presenting at the Oscars: "There are some countries whose leaders don't support free speech. I'm not at liberty to say which. Let's just leave it at North Korea and CBS." pic.twitter.com/6k92W4bN5W
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) March 16, 2026
Kimmel also made a pair of references to Amazon’s Melania Trump documentary.
“Oh man, is he going to be mad his wife wasn’t nominated for this,” Kimmel joked before announcing the winner for Documentary Feature.
Jimmy Kimmel presenting Best Documentary Feature at the Oscars: "Oh man, is he going to be mad his wife wasn't nominated for this." pic.twitter.com/tWM48GiuQ2
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) March 16, 2026
The White House response continues a long-running feud between Kimmel and Trump-world figures, with the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host frequently targeting the president and members of his administration in his monologues.
Neither Kimmel nor ABC had responded publicly to Cheung’s comments as of Monday morning.
The fat pig thought he could destroy Kimmel, by getting Disney to cancel his show, because he said mean truths about him!
Sad little baby, he is!😈
Baited: Hook, line and sinker, just the way Kimmel planned it~🪝
Not surprised he aimed for Kimmel when Conan also threw a pedo-joke earlier in the show~ I wonder why…🤨
Expect Kimmel’s full remarks later today since he tapes around 3-4pm~🖤🤭