Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has accused Donald Trump of orchestrating a 'code orange de-mental emergency' as the US president attempts to distract from the fallout of the unsealed Epstein files. Kimmel highlighted Trump's false claims about the Gordie Howe international bridge, which the president threatened to block over alleged lack of US content.
Kimmel noted that Trump's name appears more than 1 million times in the Epstein files, according to Representative Jamie Raskin. 'There's only 3 million pages in the whole thing,' Kimmel said, comparing the frequency to Harry Potter mentions in the book series.
The host also focused on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who claimed he cut ties with Epstein in 2005 after an 'inappropriate' remark. However, unsealed emails show Lutnick visited Epstein's island in 2012. At a congressional hearing, Lutnick admitted to having lunch with Epstein during a family vacation, saying he brought his wife and four children.
Kimmel mocked Lutnick's defence: 'The fact that you brought your family to Epstein island is not the point. The point is you lied about never being in the room with that disgusting person ever again.' Senator Chris Van Hollen also pressed Lutnick on references to Epstein's interest in one of his nannies, which Lutnick claimed not to recall.
Kimmel criticised Republicans for focusing on immigration while ignoring Epstein links within their party. 'Can you imagine how ignorant these people are, screaming about pedophiles and rapists while members of their own party seem to be doing everything they can to protect the pedophiles and the rapists in the Epstein files?'
On The Daily Show, Jordan Klepper also ridiculed Lutnick's testimony, noting that actively sailing to Epstein's island for lunch was far worse than a chance encounter. 'Howard, look man, I don't think I could be more disappointed,' Klepper said, adding that bringing children did not excuse the visit.
