Jimmy Kimmel said he obtained Italian citizenship during a conversation about people leaving the country over Donald Trump’s presidency, while also criticizing what he called “repulsive” liberal voices that he believes are pushing people away from the Democratic Party. In an interview on “The Sarah Silverman Podcast,” Kimmel said he recently secured citizenship as part of a broader conversation about the political climate.
The late-night comedian said the current political climate under Trump is “so much worse” than he imagined.
Download the Straight Arrow app today to get the stories that matter free from manipulation, bias or agenda.™
Point phone camera here
“What’s going on is as bad as you thought it was gonna be, it’s so much worse,” Kimmel said. “I feel like it’s probably even worse than [Trump] would like it to be.”
Silverman pointed out that some of Trump’s biggest critics have already left the country, and that’s when Kimmel brought up his own dual citizenship.
“I do have…I did get Italian citizenship. I do have that,” Kimmel said.
Criticism of political left
Kimmel also said some outspoken liberal figures have alienated people from the Democratic Party. While defending the party overall, he said a small but vocal group can discourage open discussion and make others feel unwelcome.
“It’s not the party, it’s not the majority. It’s the loud voices that scare people from saying what they believe,” Kimmel said. “A lot of their points are valid, but a lot of them are also just repulsive, in that they repel people.”
The conversation included references to podcast host Joe Rogan, who supported Trump in the 2024 election but recently criticized the president’s deportation policies. Kimmel said he does not agree with shunning people who have shifted their political views, saying people who shift against Trump “are welcome” to join the Democratic Party.
Response from Trump
Kimmel’s comments came as Trump said he believed Kimmel and fellow late-night host Jimmy Fallon could lose their shows following the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show.”
“Fallon has no talent. Kimmel has no talent. They’re next,” Trump said in July on Truth Social, adding that Colbert’s ratings were higher than either host’s.
