Jimmy Kimmel compares Harris-Trump clash to ‘Lorax debating Grinch,’ calls ex-POTUS' performance a ‘mess’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: On Tuesday night, Jimmy Kimmel confidently declared that Kamala Harris emerged victorious in her debate against Donald Trump.

Kimmel quipped, “It was like watching the Lorax debate the Grinch tonight. Usually when Donald Trump gets a spanking like this from a woman it’s with a Forbes Magazine."

"Kamala was pushing his buttons like a 12-year-old playing ‘Fortnite',” he humorously remarked during his monologue.

Jimmy Kimmel pokes fun at Donald Trump’s strategy

Jimmy Kimmel continued, “Oh, this was a much better debate than the last debate,” adding, “This is like ‘The Lion King’ when Simba came back to avenge Mufasa.”

Kimmel then poked fun at Trump’s pre-debate strategy, noting that Trump’s advisors had suggested he adopt a ‘happy Trump’ persona rather than his usual ‘mean, bully Trump', and focus on the issues. “Of course he didn’t listen to any of that at all. But who are we kidding? This election isn’t about the issues,” Kimmel said. “I mean, Dick Cheney isn’t voting for Kamala Harris because he agrees with her on the issues. He’s voting for her because there’s a rhinoceros charging, and she has the tranquilizer gun.”

The host also highlighted some of Trump’s odd behaviors before the debate and criticized the falsehoods spread by Republicans, including Trump and his running mate JD Vance.

One notable falsehood was the claim about Haitian immigrants allegedly eating pets in Ohio, a rumor that Kimmel debunked. “The city of Springfield, in [JD Vance’s] state, Ohio, says there have been no credible reports of Haitians eating pets. But JD Vance, who wants to be vice president of the United States, keeps bringing it up,” Kimmel continued.

Jimmy Kimmel jokes about JD Vance’s spread of misinformation

Jimmy Kimmel then humorously added, “Oh, he’s [JD Vance] getting calls. I didn’t know he was getting calls, now it makes sense. I guess all you have to do to get JD Vance to start spreading crazy things around — is make calls.”

Kimmel then displayed the phone number (202) 224-3353 onscreen. “This, by the way, is the direct line to his office. Whatever you do, do not call that number to tell JD Vance that rainbow sprinkles at Baskin Robbins turned your kids gay, OK. Please, do not distract the senator with this kind of silliness,” he advised.

Kimmel also took aim at Trump’s claims about Haitian immigrants during the debate. “Here’s what I’d like you to do right now. I want you to close your eyes. I want you to imagine we’d never heard of Donald Trump before, and the first time you ever seen him was during tonight’s debate. What would your reaction be right now? You’d be in shock. The Republican party would have to close their headquarters and turn them into a Spirit Halloween store,” Kimmel said.

Jimmy Kimmel mocks Donald Trump’s missteps and mispronunciations

Jimmy Kimmel further mocked Donald Trump’s assertion that “people on television” prove the racist lie about Haitian immigrants is true and added commentary about how he also deliberately mispronounces Kamala Harris’ name. He also noted how Trump reacted when Project 2025 was mentioned during the debate.

“Oh, what a mess. Oh, what a job he did tonight,” Kimmel said as he concluded the segment. “Joe Biden is going to be so happy when he wakes up tomorrow and watches this.”