Jimmy Kimmel criticises Donald Trump over Nicolás Maduro’s arrest on his show, likens him to a dictator: ‘This feels like Wag the Dog’

Late-night television rarely holds back, but Jimmy Kimmel’s return to the spotlight after the holiday break came with unusually sharp political bite. The comedian used his monologue to take aim at Donald Trump, linking recent geopolitical developments to ongoing controversies surrounding the US president and drawing laughter, and backlash, in equal measure.

During the latest episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host suggested that Trump’s actions on the global stage were less about diplomacy and more about distraction. Kimmel claimed the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been framed as a dramatic foreign policy move while attention remained fixed on renewed scrutiny over the Epstein files.



Kimmel wasted little time setting the tone. “Donald Trump did so much crazy stuff over the last two weeks, it would take a nine-part Ken Burns documentary to cover it,” he joked, before turning his focus to Venezuela. According to Kimmel, the timing of the operation raised uncomfortable questions about motive rather than merit.



Drawing comparisons to the 1997 film Wag the Dog, Kimmel argued that the situation mirrored a familiar fictional plot - a leader caught in scandal using military action to divert public attention. “If you were wondering how bad these Epstein files are,” he quipped, “turns out they’re ‘invade another country’ bad.”

The comedian went on to describe the hallmarks of what he called a “criminal dictator”: driving a nation into financial ruin while enriching family members and silencing critics. Initially, the description appeared aimed squarely at Maduro. Moments later, Kimmel flipped the punchline, revealing Trump as the true target of the monologue.



“Trump decided Maduro had to go,” Kimmel said, before adding that while the Venezuelan leader is “no saint”, the irony of the comparison was impossible to ignore. The audience response was immediate, with laughter rippling through the studio.

The segment quickly circulated online, where clips from the monologue gained traction across platforms. Viewers praised Kimmel’s delivery and timing, while others reignited debate around late-night comedy’s role in political discourse.



One user on X wrote, “No wonder Trump hates Kimmel - he dismantles him every time.” Another commented, “For once, Kimmel actually landed the jokes.” On Reddit, some argued that previous attempts to pressure Disney had backfired, effectively freeing Kimmel to be more outspoken than ever.



As expected, not all reactions were favourable. Critics accused the host of oversimplifying a complex international situation for the sake of comedy, while supporters defended satire as a legitimate form of political commentary.



Regardless of where viewers stand, the monologue underscores how late-night television continues to influence public conversation, particularly when politics, power and pop culture collide. Kimmel’s remarks may have been delivered with humour, but they struck a nerve, reminding audiences that, in today’s media landscape, comedy and criticism often go hand in hand.