Donald Trump rekindles long-standing feuds with Oprah Winfrey and Jimmy Kimmel in Pennsylvania speech

WASHINGTON, DC: At a lively rally in Pennsylvania on Monday night, former president and 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump displayed his signature style, delivering a range of offbeat remarks that included critiques of late-night television and reflections on his past friendship with Oprah Winfrey.

Trump, addressing supporters at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, kicked off his speech by targeting several prominent media figures he feels have slighted him.

 Trump aims at Oprah Winfrey and late-night TV shows

“Oprah Winfrey, who I used to know well, she used to love me, until I decided to run for politics,” Trump quipped, adopting a mock Winfrey voice: “Oh let’s go to Mar-a-Lago darling, I love the place so much.” The crowd reacted with boos at the mention of the renowned talk show host.

“She used to love me but once I ran for politics that was the end of that and that was OK with me,” Trump continued. “I couldn’t care less, because we gotta make our country great again, we gotta make it great again, greater than ever before.”

This echoed a post he made on Truth Social criticizing Winfrey for her recent interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, where he remarked, “I couldn’t help but think this isn’t the real Oprah.”

As is typical for Trump, his speech jumped from topic to topic, discussing everything from the rising stock market to his unfounded claims about the 2020 election.

He soon shifted focus to late-night television, a recurring target of his during his political career. “The Tonight Show, which is dying, they’re all dying. Where is Johnny Carson? Bring back Johnny Carson,” he said, referencing the iconic host who passed away in 2005.

Trump critiques Jimmy Kimmel's Oscars hosting

Turning his attention to Jimmy Kimmel, Trump recalled Kimmel’s performance at the Academy Awards. “[Jimmy Kimmel] was the worst host in the history of the Academy Awards.

Remember I did that? Remember I put a Truth…” he asked, referring to his past criticisms of the late-night host, who has often mocked Trump. He recounted a moment during the Oscars where Kimmel, against the wishes of those around him, read Trump’s Truth Social post aloud to the audience.

“Remember the Academy Awards and this stupid guy goes up, and just before the Best Picture of the year, the show is almost over, they’re waiting for Best Picture of the year, he gets up and he says, and his wife said, ‘Please don’t do it, please darling don’t go out,’ his manager said, don’t do it."

He goes out and reads my Truth to the entire audience, right before primetime. He reads the whole thing and then I think he said something like, ‘Ha ha ha he thinks he bothers me’ or some crap like that. I said, ‘He’s one of the dumbest human beings ever. What a dope.’”

Trump slams media and discusses international issues

Trump didn’t shy away from addressing the media, expressing frustration with “dishonest ABC” and moderator David Muir, whom he claimed interrupted him during a debate. He suggested Muir had “a serious brain problem” for accurately reporting that crime rates in New York were declining.

The rally also touched on international issues, with Trump labeling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “the greatest salesman in history,” claiming he walks away with “$60 billion” every time he visits the US. Trump portrayed Zelensky as someone who desperately wants the Democrats to succeed in the upcoming election.

The crowd cheered when Trump made remarks about Springfield, Ohio, hinting at an influx of immigrants from Haiti, although he avoided naming their country of origin. “You have to get them the hell out, you have to get them out. I’m sorry, can’t have it, can’t have it. They destroyed it,” he stated. The rally attendees began chanting, “Send them back!” in response.

Trump’s comments regarding Haitian immigrants have been part of a broader Republican narrative since a controversial theory circulated earlier this year, falsely alleging criminal activities within the community.