PoliticsSeth Meyers and John Oliver Reveal Their Theory on Why Donald Trump Targets Jimmy Kimmel
Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel joked about President Trump's distaste for Jimmy Kimmel.
Oct. 7 2026, Published 6:20 p.m. ET
Jimmy Kimmel has frequently been the subject of attacks by Donald Trump — and Seth Meyers and John Oliver think they may have worked out why their fellow late-night host draws so much of the president's attention.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the three comedians talked about Trump's repeated criticism of Kimmel and the reason why Meyers and Oliver seem to avoid similar treatment.
Jimmy Kimmel was joined by John Oliver and Seth Meyers on his show.
John Oliver Is Happy to Let Kimmel Take the Heat
Seth Meyers and John Oliver poked fun at Trump's hatred of Kimmel.
Oliver noted that the topic often arises during the stand-up act he and Meyers put on at the Beacon Theatre in New York.
Oliver explained that members of the audience frequently ask him what it's like to be disliked by Trump, but he and Meyers have come up with a simple reply.
“As long as you’re on the air, we’re fine,” Oliver told Kimmel.
“You draw all the ire,” Meyers added.
The British star made it clear that he was entirely at ease with the arrangement, teasing he and Meyers support Kimmel in “the way that we’re fully behind a bulletproof vest.”
Kimmel then found himself wondering why Trump seems to target him so frequently.
Seth Meyers Thinks Trump Secretly Wants to Hang Out With Kimmel
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Seth Meyers had a funny theory about the Kimmel-Trump feud.
Meyers presented a theory that was only weakly connected with Kimmel's politics or jokes.
“We think he would want to hang out with you,” the SNL alum told him.
Meyers said that Trump might regard both him and Oliver as "a couple of dorks," while Kimmel has the kind of lifestyle and social circle that would attract the president.
Meyers thought that Trump would become fascinated by Kimmel's pizza oven, his celebrity friendships and parties after hearing about them.
“We don’t have one pizza oven between us,” Oliver joked.
Kimmel Has Another Theory About Trump's Late-Night Viewing
Kimmel discussed Trump's late night viewing habit.
Kimmel proposed that the explanation could be a great deal simpler: Trump knows where to find him on television.
“I think he doesn’t have HBO, so you get a break,” Kimmel told Oliver, before joking that Trump probably has “no idea” how to tune in to Jon Stewart's The Daily Show on Comedy Central.
Kimmel pointed out that Meyers' program might simply be airing too late — however, Meyers opposed that theory.
“Every time he posts about my show, it is always when it’s airing,” Meyers said, joking that knowing Trump was watching traditional television “means the world to me.”
Kimmel quickly gave the last joke: “It’s viewers like him that keep the show going."
