Jimmy Kimmel Demands Donald Trump Return ‘Back To Mar-a-Lago’ Over Failed 'Deal'

Jimmy Kimmel is demanding that Donald Trump follow through on a promise he made last year. 

The late-night host and the U.S. president have long traded jabs, but ahead of the Kennedy Center Honors,  Trump vowed to secure a record-breaking viewership for the event.

Now that the ceremony is said and done, the ratings reportedly tell a different story: they fall short of Trump’s pledge, and Kimmel is not letting it slide.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” returned on Monday night with the 58-year-old TV star turning his attention to the award show the U.S leader hosted and its disappointing viewership.

Per Nielsen live, the event averaged 3.01 million viewers, marking a 25% decline from 2024's already record-low audience of 4.1 million. 

Kimmel ridiculed the numbers while referencing Trump’s earlier brags. “After boasting about what a great host he is and how much better he is than I am and how huge his ratings would be, Trump hosted the lowest-rated Kennedy Center Honors telecast of all time,” Kimmel said.

The former “The Man Show” co-anchor then used Trump’s own words against him. “You know, as I recall, he said he'd step down if this happened,” Kimmel said, adding, “Hey, a deal is a deal. Back to Mar-a-Lago you go.”

Kimmel's recent mockery comes a month after Trump confidently predicted how his hosting would unfold and what would happen if he failed to surpass Kimmel's performance. 

As The Blast previously reported, the commander-in-chief boasted that the event would become the "highest-rated show."

Trump went ahead to put his leadership position on the line while claiming he had seen others and his abilities were better. 

"Jimmy Kimmel was horrible, and some of these people. If I can't beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don't think I should be president,” Trump declared.

Kimmel had also aimed at Trump before the new year. During his speech, Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message, Kimmel spoke directly to British viewers, claiming "tyranny is booming" in the United States.

Per The Blast, Kimmel claimed that America's leader wanted to silence him because he refused to offer the kind of praise Trump demands. 

Citing what he described as repeated assaults on institutions ranging from the press to science, Kimmel accused Trump of "both figuratively and literally tearing down the structures of our democracy."

While Kimmel continues to criticize Trump openly, his stance has not gone unnoticed.

Last month, fellow comedian and television icon David Letterman publicly acknowledged Kimmel, calling him the "leader of the resistance," according to The Blast.

Letterman addressed Trump’s fixation on Kimmel, referencing his brief ABC suspension in September 2025. The veteran entertainer, who has previously defended other comedians targeted by Trump, jokingly pledged to join Kimmel in his outspoken stance.

He then delivered a sharp rebuke, stressing that holding a president accountable goes beyond party lines.

"This has nothing to do with party or ideology," Letterman said. "If the leader of the free world behaves like a fool, then he should be prepared to face and reflect on every ounce of ridicule that comes his way."

While Kimmel's time on air last year included frequent pushback against Trump, it also drew criticism from the public. As the year ended, Kimmel took a candid and emotional look back at 2025.

During his monologue in the final episode, Kimmel acknowledged the toll the past year had taken, describing it as especially challenging.

 "This has been a strange year. It's been a hard year," he said, per The Blast. "We've had some lows. We've had some highs. For me, maybe more than any year of my life."

Despite the difficulties, Kimmel made a point to express his gratitude. Speaking to viewers both in the studio and at home, he emphasized how meaningful their support had been, particularly during the show's most trying moments.

"On behalf of all of us at the show, I just want to say that we appreciate your support, your enthusiasm,” Kimmel said candidly.