Jimmy Kimmel, the longtime host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, has formally obtained Italian citizenship—and it’s sparked a whirlwind of hypothesis that he’s getting ready for a post-America chapter, particularly as political tensions escalate throughout Donald Trump’s second time period in workplace.
In a candid dialog on The Sarah Silverman Podcast, Kimmel confirmed, “I did get Italian citizenship. I do have that,” responding to Silverman’s musings about the place Americans may flee if Trump’s presidency continues on its present trajectory. The dialog rapidly shifted to the late-night host’s dissatisfaction with the present political local weather. “As bad as you thought it was going to be—it’s so much worse,” he mentioned. “I feel like it’s probably even worse than [Trump] would like it to be.”
Kimmel’s announcement, whereas not a proper declaration of relocation, served as a symbolic center finger to Trump’s ongoing taunts—and may be his insurance coverage coverage in case the tv tides flip in opposition to him.
The Trump-Kimmel Saga Heats Up
The drama between Trump and Kimmel is hardly new. The former president has repeatedly taken intention at Kimmel, accusing him of being “talentless” and suggesting his days on ABC are numbered. In a July submit on Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“The word is, and it’s a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes… Fallon will be gone shortly thereafter.”
Trump’s declare adopted the announcement that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would finish in May 2026. He took credit score for Colbert’s downfall and made it clear he needed Kimmel to be subsequent.
Kimmel, unfazed, responded through Instagram by posting a household picture that includes shirts with anti-Trump slogans like “Make America Good Again” and “Don’t Bend the Knee.” He captioned it with the sarcastic jab, “May every day be another wonderful secret”—a not-so-subtle nod to a phrase Trump allegedly wrote in a letter to Jeffrey Epstein.
Why Italian Citizenship Now?
Kimmel’s transfer to acquire Italian citizenship appears extra private than political—at the very least on the floor. He revealed at an occasion in Los Angeles celebrating Italian Republic Day that his citizenship was granted due to his late grandmother Edith, whose household hailed from Candida, a small city within the province of Avellino.
Still, the timing of the announcement and its political backdrop depart little room for coincidence. The United States is turning into an more and more hostile house for outspoken liberal entertainers, particularly these important of Trump. In response, a number of celebrities—together with Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres—have already packed their baggage and completely relocated after Trump’s reelection in 2024.
Kimmel, it seems, now has his “Plan B.”
The Bigger Trend: Celebrities Plotting Exits
Kimmel’s not alone. In current months, a small exodus of progressive celebrities has begun to take form. Rosie O’Donnell moved overseas shortly after the 2024 election. Ellen DeGeneres has additionally exited, quietly settling exterior the U.S. following years of public scrutiny and political division.
What was a punchline—“If [insert candidate] wins, I’m moving!”—is slowly turning into a actuality for some. While critics dismiss these strikes as performative or hypocritical, others view them as acts of protest or self-preservation.
Critics Pile On
The backlash in opposition to Kimmel’s announcement was swift and harsh, significantly from conservative commentators and Fox News viewers. On-air personalities like Greg Gutfeld mocked the “tired trope” of celebrities threatening to flee. Commenters on FoxNews.com lit up the thread with sarcasm and disdain:
- “43% tax rate, 22% VAT, and a failed banking system? Great choice, Jimmy. Bye.”
- “He should’ve just crossed the Italian border illegally—wasn’t that his preferred method?”
- “Another grandstanding Hollywood stunt. He’s not going anywhere.”
Many identified the irony of shifting to Italy, a rustic at the moment ruled by a right-wing coalition underneath Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Others questioned the practicality of the transfer, citing Europe’s excessive taxes, tighter private freedoms, and lack of American-style comfort.
Is Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Trouble?
So, will Jimmy Kimmel Live! be the following late-night present to go?
As of now, there’s no official affirmation from ABC or Disney that the present is being canceled. While Trump has been gleefully predicting Kimmel’s demise, networks have remained silent. That silence, nevertheless, isn’t essentially significant—many imagine it’s merely a tactic to keep away from fueling the hearth.
Still, the late-night panorama is shifting. Viewership for politically charged exhibits has dropped, and networks are underneath monetary pressure. Colbert’s departure, Howard Stern’s potential exit from SiriusXM, and normal fatigue with “hate Trump” comedy may all sign a broader pivot in leisure media.
The Takeaway
Jimmy Kimmel might not be packing his baggage for Rome simply but—however his Italian passport suggests he’s not leaving his future to likelihood. With Trump again in workplace, late-night hosts underneath hearth, and public discourse extra polarized than ever, even America’s prime entertainers are contemplating exit methods.
Whether Kimmel stays or goes, the message is evident: the cultural fault traces of American politics now prolong far past Washington—and late-night comedy might by no means be the identical.