Jimmy Kimmel says he had not expected Donald Trump to take a swipe at him when responding to questions in the White House.
The president had been fielding questions in the Oval Office and hit out at Grammy Awards show host Trevor Noah, but also included a jab at talk show host Kimmel. Trump would later make a lengthy Truth Social post about Noah, who had made a joke about the president and Jeffrey Epstein.
Noah said when hosting the show, "Song of the Year - that is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense because Epstein's island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton."
Trump told reporters, "He [Noah] said that I spent time on Jeffrey Epstein's island, I didn't. He's a lightweight, this guy. Terrible. I think he did a terrible job at the Grammy's. I thought the whole Grammy's was terrible, I watched part of it, it's not watchable.
"But he was a lousy host. I'd say not as bad as Jimmy Kimmel, but pretty close." Kimmel, speaking during the opening monologue of his talk show last night, says he was blindsided by the response from Trump.
Kimmel said, "How did I get in there? I was at home last night, minding my own business. Boy, I really got up his a**. He also posted about me last night. Let me tell you something, Donald somehow has time to watch every awards show, and hates them all.
"No one I know watches more awards shows than Donald Trump. He's planning to sue Trevor Noah now, he's also suing the government, our government, for $10million dollars."
Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!!
"I can't speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight's false and defamatory statement, have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media.
"Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast."