What began as a late-night bit quickly turned into a political flashpoint. Kimmel’s mockery over the looming Epstein document release landed at the exact moment Washington was trying to project rare unity through the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Trump’s furious response on Truth Social, branding Kimmel talentless and ABC “fake,” didn’t just reignite an old rivalry — it underscored how fragile that unity really was, and how easily entertainment can collide with raw political power.
Within days, the clash had widened beyond one comedian and one president. Trump’s attacks expanded to other late-night hosts, while tense exchanges with ABC reporters in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One exposed just how deeply the Epstein topic unnerved him.
ABC’s blistering rebuttal framed Trump’s accusations as partisan theater, highlighting the media’s role in amplifying the feud.