Kimmel audience bursts into cheers at senator's 'perfect comeback' to Todd Blanche's whine
May 20, 2026
The in-studio audience for Tuesday night’s“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC burst into cheering and raucous applause after the host shared a clip of Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) putting acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in his place earlier in the day.
According to Kimmel, it was “perfect.”
In the exchange, the combative Blanche, who landed his current job after Donald Trump dumped his predecessor, Pam Bondi, seemed incredulous that the Maryland Democrat doubted his integrity as he defended the president and the plan for a $1.776 billion “slush fund” for the president's aggrieved Jan 6 supporters.
Kimmel introduced the clip (at the 8:47 mark) by explaining, “So Todd Blanche, who was Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, he’s current acting attorney general now, got grilled on this day by the Senate Appropriations Committee."
He then added, “The way they are going to determine who gets the money is with a five person commission, and guess who gets to pick who will be on that commission? That’s right. Trump’s own little Malti-Poo, Todd Blanche.”
In the clip, Van Hollen is seen speaking to the Trump appointee and admonishing him, “Attorney general, come on. So you’re not going to submit this proposal to any federal judge or independent —.”
“There is no judge,” Blanche interrupted before adding, "What does that mean, ‘independent authority’?”
“Not somebody that is going to pick the five of the members who was Donald Trump’s former personal attorney. That would be somebody who is independent,” Van Hollen fired back.
“I’m the acting attorney general, okay?” Blanche snapped. “The fact that I used to be President Trump’s lawyer is just a fact. But I’m the acting attorney general, so don’t say the president’s former lawyer will do something. The acting attorney general will do something.”
“Mr. Attorney General, you are acting today like the president’s personal attorney and that is the whole problem,” the Democrat sharply accused.
The led ABC host Kimmel to smirk as his audience burst into cheers.
“That was amazing,” the comedian stated as he joined the applause.
“That was like one of those fake conversations you have with yourself in the shower where you have a perfect comeback, except it happened on TV,” he joked. “Good going, Sen. Chris Van Hollen.”
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