Jimmy Kimmel reacts after Trump drags him into Trevor Noah diss: 'How did I get in there'

WASHINGTON, DC: Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel reacted with surprise and humor after President Donald Trump referenced him while criticizing comedian Trevor Noah’s performance at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

Kimmel addressed the unexpected mention during Monday’s episode of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', noting that he was “minding his own business” when Trump brought his name into the ongoing exchange.

The late-night host, 58, began the Monday, Feb 2 episode by poking fun at Trump, 79, for bringing him into a discussion about Trevor Noah recently hosting the Grammy Awards. 

Jimmy Kimmel says Trump watches most award shows

“How did I get in there!?” Kimmel asked during his monologue, reacting to Trump’s remarks. “How did I get in there? I was at home last night, minding my own business.”

Kimmel further noted that Trump also mentioned him in a Truth Social post after the event, in which he said Noah “is almost as bad as Jimmy Kimmel at the low-rating Academy Awards.”

“Boy, I really got up his a**,” Kimmel laughed. “Donald Trump somehow has time to watch every award show and hates them all. He doesn't like any of them. No one I know watches more award shows than Donald Trump.”

Referring to Trump as “President Dementia,” Kimmel joked that the politician “got back to the issues that matter most to the American people” before the clip of Trump’s comments played.

On the topic of his hosting abilities, Kimmel, who has hosted the Oscars four times, including in 2024 when the event broke viewership records, teased that he’d take on the gig again under one circumstance.

“Mark my words right now: if Melania gets nominated for an Oscar, I will host that show whether they ask me to or not,” he said of first lady Melania Trump’s new documentary. “I will insist on it!”

Trump slams Trevor Noah and Jimmy Kimmel

Earlier, Trump was asked if he would consider suing Noah, 41, for a joke he made at the annual ceremony in relation to the Song of the Year award.

“That is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland. Which makes sense, I mean, because Epstein’s island is gone. He needs a new one to hang out on with Bill Clinton," joked Trevor Noah.

“[Noah] said that I spent time on Jeffrey Epstein's Island. I didn't. I mean, he's a lightweight, this guy. I think he's terrible,” Trump told reporters.

“I thought he did a terrible job at the Grammys. I thought the whole Grammys was terrible. I watched part of it. It's not watchable, but he was a lousy host. I'd say not as bad as Jimmy Kimmel, but pretty close,” Trump continued.

Elsewhere in the post, Trump threatened legal action against Noah: “It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an MC, and suing him for plenty$,” he wrote, later adding, “Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!”