Jimmy Kimmel Mocks Trump’s Summer Record in Return Monologue as Show’s Future Fuels Reports

Jimmy Kimmel was back behind the desk after a three-month summer break, and his first monologue wasted little time turning to President Donald Trump. Kimmel joked that he and Trump had something in common: “We both accomplished nothing all summer long.” The quip set the tone for a return that mixed political digs with a fresh round of speculation about the future of his late-night show. Kimmel sarcastically declared that, three months later, all the problems he had mentioned—including the Iran conflict, gas prices and inflation—had supposedly been solved, crediting Trump with making America great again. He also took aim at a reported $20 million renovation of the White House Reflecting Pool, saying the president “couldn’t even get a pool cleaned.” Referring to the algae, Kimmel joked about how the country could win a war abroad if it could not win “the war against algae.” The host went on to needle Trump over approval ratings and his posts on Truth Social, describing the president’s frequent AI-generated material as “crazier than ever.” Kimmel also touched on gas prices, the Strait of Hormuz and Trump’s efforts to influence the coming midterms. The jokes came as Kimmel returned to the program he has hosted since 2003. A Page Six report said Kimmel’s contract would not be extended beyond the upcoming season, potentially bringing his run to a close in May 2027. A source familiar with the situation told the outlet, “His contract is not getting extended.” The report also cited a network insider who connected the matter to cost-cutting under new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro. ABC disputed the account. A spokesperson said the information was inaccurate and that reports about the show’s future were speculative. Sources cited in the report also denied that Kimmel’s clashes with Trump were behind the alleged decision. The story noted that Trump has called for ABC to fire Kimmel, who was temporarily suspended after comments about Charlie Kirk.