Late-Night Host Jimmy Kimmel Acquires Italian Citizenship, Calls US Under Trump ‘Worse Than Expected’
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has disclosed that he became an Italian citizen this year, partly as a backup plan amid increasing worries about President Donald Trump’s administration. Speaking on The Sarah Silverman Podcast, Kimmel said the political situation in the US was “as bad as you thought it would be,” adding, “It’s actually much worse; it’s simply unbelievable. I feel it might even be worse than what he intended.”
Kimmel’s decision follows a pattern among celebrities like Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres, who have left the country since Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential election. O’Donnell, known for her outspoken criticism of Trump, recently told Variety that she has no immediate plans to return to the US, citing concerns about her child’s safety and the prevailing political atmosphere.
Kimmel frequently criticises Trump in his late-night monologues, which has resulted in Trump publicly threatening to cancel Jimmy Kimmel Live. Trump claimed it could be the next show to be taken off air after CBS discontinued Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show. Replying on his programme, Kimmel joked, “I’m hearing you’re next. Or maybe it’s just another wonderful secret,” alluding to a Wall Street Journal report about a letter Trump sent to Jeffrey Epstein back in 2003.
On the podcast, Kimmel also spoke about the criticism faced by those who reconsider their support for Trump. Addressing backlash against personalities like Joe Rogan for questioning Trump’s policies, Kimmel emphasised that voters should keep an open mind.
“Now you see clips of Joe Rogan asking, ‘Why is he doing this? Why are you deporting people?’ And people respond, ‘How dare you! You supported him.’ I don’t agree with that,” Kimmel said. “The door must remain open. Changing your mind is difficult. Admitting you were wrong is even harder and rare. But you are always welcome to do so.”
Though Kimmel continues to host his late-night show on ABC, his Italian citizenship offers him an alternative, joining several celebrities who have contemplated or taken steps abroad due to their concerns about Trump’s presidency.
