Jimmy Kimmel fires back at Donald Trump with Epstein-laced comeback after POTUS predicts Kimmel and Fallon’s shows will be canceled next

Jimmy Kimmel fires back at Donald Trump

“I’m hearing you’re next. Or maybe it’s just another wonderful secret,” Kimmel shot back on Instagram late Tuesday. Hours earlier, the 47th President had called out late-night hosts, Kimmel, Fallon, and Colbert, calling them “no-talent” hacks who “ruined what used to be great television.” Trump posted, “The word is, and it’s a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, Fallon will be gone.” He added, “It’s really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it!” Trump even brought up Fox’s Greg Gutfeld, saying he’s better than all of them combined, taking a final swipe at “the moron on NBC,” clearly aimed at Fallon.

While cancelling the show, CBS insisted the decision had nothing to do with politics, Colbert’s content, or any of the legal drama. But the timing said otherwise. Just before the news broke, Colbert had slammed Paramount for quietly settling Trump’s 60 Minutes lawsuit for $16 million. The late-night host called it a “fat bribe”,  framing it as an attempt to appease Trump and clear its way for the Skydance merger they’ve been hell-bent on pushing through for a while now.

Also read: ‘I love that Colbert got fired’: Trump applauds CBS decision to end ‘The Late Show’

Meanwhile, Kimmel used the phrase “wonderful secret” in his response, a not-so-subtle nod to that July 17 Wall Street Journal piece detailing Trump’s 2003 birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein. According to the report, the letter was typed inside the outline of a naked woman, “ which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. A pair of small arcs denotes the woman’s breasts, and the future president’s signature is a squiggly ‘Donald’ below her waist.” The letter concludes with, “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump earlier filed a defamation lawsuit against Dow Jones & Co. and News Corp’s Rupert Murdoch. Two journalists were also dragged in, with Trump demanding at least $20 billion in damages. In response, the WSJ said, “We have full confidence in the rigour and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”