Kimmel Mocks White House Spokesperson Over Insult
Jimmy Kimmel responded on his late-night show to a White House statement that called him a peanut-sized brain holder.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Space
During Monday's monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel read aloud a statement from White House spokesperson Davis Ingle that said Kimmel's case of Trump Derangement Syndrome had rotted his peanut-sized brain. Kimmel then mocked the statement on air.
Why it matters
The exchange highlights ongoing friction between the White House and late-night comedians over commentary about the president. Because the statement was issued through an official spokesperson, the dispute extends beyond a single comedy segment into public messaging from the administration.
The monologue aired at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC, the regular weeknight slot for Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Ingle had previously claimed in October that Kimmel was devoid of actual talent, and no further White House response to the latest exchange had been reported at the time of publication.
The players
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel is an American late-night talk show host known for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which airs on ABC.
Davis Ingle
Davis Ingle is a White House spokesperson who has repeatedly criticized Kimmel's comedy publicly.
The details
Kimmel read Ingle's statement to his studio audience, then cut to footage of Trump struggling to say 'human genome' at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The White House did not immediately respond to TheWrap's request for comment.
Timeline
October: Ingle claimed Kimmel was devoid of actual talent.
Monday, November 9, 2026: Kimmel mocked the peanut-sized brain statement during his monologue.
Big Picture
The latest statement continues a pattern of White House spokespeople publicly rebuking Kimmel's monologues about President Trump, following Ingle's October criticism that Kimmel lacked talent. The back-and-forth shows how late-night segments have become a recurring front in administration messaging.
For viewers, the dispute means Jimmy Kimmel Live! remains a venue where administration criticism is aired directly, with the show's weeknight 11:35 p.m. ET broadcast on ABC as the main way to see such segments. Readers following the exchange can watch the monologue on ABC's regular schedule.
The takeaway
Public exchanges between the White House and late-night hosts are increasingly conducted through formal statements and on-air rebuttals. Readers tracking the story can follow subsequent White House responses, which had not been issued at the time of reporting.
Further reading
For more on the administration's dealings with science and aerospace agencies, see the Space section.
