On December 6, 2025, Donald Trump, while presenting the Kennedy Center honorees with medals, referred to talk show host Jimmy Kimmel as 'horrible.' This remark occurred during a ceremony at the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., ahead of the Kennedy Center Honors scheduled for December 7. Trump stated, 'If I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don’t think I should be president.'

The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual event that recognizes individuals for their significant contributions to American culture. This year’s honorees include Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford, with Trump claiming a substantial role in their selection after appointing himself chairman of the Kennedy Center earlier in the year.

The ongoing feud between Trump and Kimmel has intensified, particularly following Kimmel's suspension from his show for several episodes in September, which was linked to comments made after the death of Charlie Kirk. Trump previously commented on Kimmel's suspension during a visit to the United Kingdom, suggesting it was due to a lack of talent. In a post on Truth Social, Trump labeled Kimmel as a 'man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS,' further criticizing the perceived bias of Kimmel's show. Kimmel responded to Trump's remarks with humor, noting the timing of Trump's social media post shortly after Kimmel's show aired.