Jimmy Kimmel Compares Trump to Maduro Amid Venezuelan Crisis

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel delivered a pointed critique of former President Donald Trump during his broadcast on September 27, 2023, drawing a controversial comparison between Trump and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. This commentary followed a recent military operation in Caracas where Delta Force operatives captured Maduro and his wife. Kimmel suggested that the operation served as a distraction from emerging documents related to financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Kimmel opened his monologue with a sharp observation about Trump’s New Year’s resolution for “peace on Earth,” stating that it lasted “just under two days.” He remarked, “If you were wondering how bad these Epstein files are for Trump, turns out they invade Venezuela bad.” This statement encapsulated Kimmel’s view that the operation was a strategic diversion from the mounting pressures facing Trump.

In his commentary, Kimmel referenced the 1997 political satire film Wag the Dog, which revolves around a presidential scandal leading to a fabricated war in a distant country. He noted, “This is literally the plot of the movie Wag the Dog. The president gets caught in a sex scandal, so he attacks a smaller country to distract us, and here we are distracted.”

The comedian described the military action as being closely monitored by Trump from his Mar-a-Lago estate, quipping that the operation’s name was “definitely generated by Chat GPT.” He acknowledged the complexities of the situation, stating, “After months of escalation, Trump decided Maduro had to go, and yes, he’s a criminal and a dictator who’s driven his country into financial ruin while he and his family have lined their own pockets, but Maduro is no saint either.”

The late-night television landscape has changed dramatically in recent months, with significant shifts seen across various shows. Notably, NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers eliminated its house band in 2024, while CBS canceled The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last year.

Kimmel’s recent remarks have not been without controversy. In September 2025, he faced backlash for comments regarding the shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. He criticized those attempting to distance the shooter from the MAGA movement, stating, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.” These comments sparked calls from members of the Trump administration and television station owners for Kimmel’s show to be canceled.

In response to the backlash, ABC suspended the program for six nights, with affiliates of Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group choosing not to air episodes during that period.

As Kimmel continues to challenge political figures through his platform, his comparisons and critiques reflect a dynamic and often contentious relationship between entertainment and political discourse in contemporary media.