Jimmy Kimmel is trying to turn the tables on President Donald Trump.
The comedian, on Tuesday night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," covered Trump's recent controversial comments during a recent campaign rally in Nebraska, in which he suggested Iran could "take out" a U.S. city with a nuclear weapon.
Trump said the economic impact from the Iran war is "a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego," he said, at which point applause from the crowd grew louder. "This is a very small price to pay."
California officials characterized Trump's comments as an invitation or downplaying of an attack, while the White House said Trump's remarks were about
safeguarding Americans.
"I know he says a lot of crazy things. I know this is something we'll forget about by Thursday when he accidentally swallows a baby at a rally or whatever the hell he does next," Kimmel said on Oct. 6. "But that's one of the craziest, indefensible statements I've ever heard even this maniac make."
He continued, "Openly musing about Iran, a country we are currently at war with, taking out two American cities while his adoring fans cheer him on. But it's OK because we're liberals. We deserve to get bombed."
Kimmel later quipped, "We already had a huge bomb here this weekend. It's called 'Digger.'"
The comedian then brought up controversy from the right over his comments about Melania Trump in April, in which he jokingly called the first lady an "expectant widow" days before there was a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Trump and conservative media outlets characterized the joke, which Kimmel said was about Trump's age, as "despicable" and "dangerous."
"If that rhetoric was deranged and dangerous and violent and dark, surely you must be mortified by the president of the United States casually ruminating about the deaths of 13 million people," Kimmel said. He then played a series of clips in which conservative media figures defended Trump's remarks, with one commentator saying, "The question on everyone's mind is, why can't the left take a joke?"
"That's right. You know what? I'm going to report him to the FCC," Kimmel responded.
Kimmel's comments echo the Trump administration's recent threats against "The View" and, allegedly, Kimmel himself. In September, Kimmel's interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico was not allowed to air on TV due to alleged threats from the commission, which a White House spokesman denied. The FCC was also seemingly behind his September 2025 suspension.
"The hypocrisy is so glaring you can't even turn your head toward it. Do you want to know the real reason Trump hates California? I'll tell you. It has nothing to do with politics," Kimmel said. He then showed a clip of California Gov. Gavin Newsom – who called Trump "deranged and dangerous" after the Iran comments – greeting the first lady with a side kiss.
"It's because our governor got farther with his wife than he has in 15 years," Kimmel quipped.
Contributing: James Ward and Zac Anderson, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kimmel says he'll report Trump to the FCC after Iran, San Diego comments
