Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel has launched a blistering counter-attack against former US President Donald Trump after being dragged into the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The controversy ignited when Trump, on his Truth Social platform, suggested the popular ABC host should be named on the much-discussed list of associates connected to the disgraced financier. "If he's going to make false and highly damaging statements like this, he should be required to provide evidence," Kimmel fired back during his monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
The comedian didn't stop there. He issued a stark warning to the former president, threatening to take the matter to the courts. "And if he doesn't, I will sue him. And I will win. And I will give the money to Epstein's victims," Kimmel declared to applause from his studio audience.
A Hypocritical Attack?
Kimmel expertly turned the tables on Trump, highlighting the former president's own documented history with Epstein. He reminded viewers of past interviews and photographs that placed Trump alongside the convicted sex offender at social events.
"He's the one who had a party with Jeffrey Epstein in 1992 at Mar-a-Lago. He's the one who described Epstein as a 'terrific guy','' Kimmel stated, questioning the credibility of the accusation. The host pointedly added that he himself had "never met Jeffrey Epstein; Trump obviously has."
Beyond the Punchlines: A Serious Threat
While delivered with the comedian's trademark wit, the underlying message was profoundly serious. Kimmel's threat of a defamation lawsuit moves the exchange beyond the typical war of words between the entertainer and the politician.
This public clash underscores the intense and deeply personal nature of the ongoing political and cultural divisions in the United States, where even a late-night comedy show can become a battleground for high-stakes legal threats.
