Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel, widely known for his relentless criticism of Donald Trump, has offered an unexpectedly honest take on one of the key forces behind the president’s political comeback: cancel culture.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Kimmel stated, “I don’t think anybody should be canceled. I really don’t.”
His admission marks a rare moment where the liberal comedian acknowledges the backlash that cancel culture has created among voters—and how it may have played a direct role in Trump’s reelection victory over Kamala Harris in 2024.
Kimmel went further, admitting that liberals targeting comedians over jokes has driven many voters into Trump’s camp.
Kimmel eventually landed on a point that many political observers and cultural commentators have echoed for years: Americans are tired of the culture of outrage, especially when it comes to free speech and comedy.
The late-night host’s comments come as public tolerance for cancel culture continues to erode.
62 percent of Americans say they are afraid to express their opinions for fear of being shamed, doxxed, or fired, according to a 2024 study by the Cato Institute.
For many, Trump’s unapologetic style stands in sharp contrast to the hypersensitive climate that has emerged over the last decade—making him, in their view, one of the few public figures who can’t be canceled.
Kimmel’s words align with this reality.
Comedians like Dave Chappelle have come under intense fire in recent years for material some critics deem offensive, sparking nationwide debates over where the line should be drawn.
For those who support Trump, his refusal to play by those rules—his boldness, bluntness, and resistance to being “policed”—is exactly what they want in a leader.
Still, while Kimmel acknowledges the cultural backlash, his interpretation of Trump’s success remains limited.
In the same interview, he compared his reaction to Trump’s election win to the moment O.J. Simpson was acquitted.
“When O.J. was found not guilty, I was just absolutely shocked,” Kimmel said. “I had that same feeling. I had this faith in America that was shaken, and I still am not over it.”
Kimmel made headlines in late March for sparking outrage after a recent monologue appeared to mock Tesla CEO Elon Musk while making controversial remarks about Tesla vehicles being vandalized.
Kimmel had targeted Musk’s interview with Sean Hannity during his March 19 broadcast, where the billionaire had discussed recent incidents of Tesla cars being set on fire.
The late-night host began by highlighting Musk’s current business challenges, noting, “His sales are down, his stock is down.”
Kimmel then addressed Musk’s suggestion that people vandalizing Tesla vehicles were suffering from “some kind of mental illness.”
Kimmel offered his own explanation in response: “When you pull out a chainsaw to celebrate firing thousands of people, they get mad.”
This reference to Musk’s past actions regarding Tesla workforce reductions was followed by additional sarcastic comments.
Kimmel continued his criticism by saying, “My god, I mean, this poor guy. You do one, maybe two Nazi salutes, everybody gets all bent out of shape!”
This comment referred to a gesture Musk made during a post-inauguration speech that many mainstream media outlets swiftly compared to a Nazi salute.
The controversy intensified when Kimmel told viewers “please don’t vandalize Tesla,” but delivered the message with a lengthy pause and facial expression that some interpreted as tacit approval of such actions.
WATCH:
