Jimmy Kimmel has savaged Donald Trump over rumors that the former president farts in court.
Trump's New York criminal trial began last week, with opening statements delivered on Monday. The 77-year-old was indicted in March 2023 for allegedly falsifying business records, supposedly to hide hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 general election.
Daniels—whose real name Stephanie Clifford—said she and Trump had a one-night stand in 2006. Trump has refuted Daniels' claims of an affair and had pled not guilty to the charges. Newsweek has reached out Donald Trump for comment via email.
During Monday night's installment of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the comedian mocked the Republican politician's legal struggles, including speculation that Trump passes gas during court proceedings.
Kimmel shared a snippet from the MeidasTouch Network, in which co-founder and Trump critic Ben Meiselas speaks about "credible sources" regarding the defendant's reported emissions.
"What I'm hearing is that, um, take it for what it's worth, but that Donald Trump is actually farting in the courtroom," Meiselas said in the clip, originally shared to TikTok over the weekend. Newsweek has as yet been unable to verify this claim.
"Just when you think the insano-meter has topped out, Donald Trump adds farting to his list of atrocities," Kimmel said in response to the video.
"I mean, we are in uncharted territory," the 56-year-old added. However, he did leave room for doubt, saying: "We don't know for sure that Trump was the one farting."
"It would not be right for me to state that he was," Kimmel said. "I cannot in good conscience report that Trump was pumping gas like a Barstow Texaco, but I can report, to borrow a phrase he likes to use when spreading rumors, 'many people were saying Trump was farting in court.'"
Kimmel and Trump have been embroiled in a public feud since 2020, when the comedian retweeted a video claiming that Vice President Mike Pence was using empty boxes of PPE for a photo opportunity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kimmel apologized on air for the mistake, but immediately followed it up with a list of criticisms targeting the Trump administration. The former president blasted Kimmel on X, formerly Twitter, calling him a "last place" host.
In March, Trump slammed Kimmel's presenting skills at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Truth Social, with the host reading the post out loud to the audience.
"Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars," Trump wrote. "His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be.
"Get rid of Kimmel and perhaps replace him with another washed up, but cheap, ABC 'talent,' George Slopanopoulos. He would make everybody on stage look bigger, stronger, and more glamorous."
Trump hit out at Kimmel for the Oscar's gag again in April. The business mogul seemingly confused the TV star for actor Al Pacino, who delivered the Best Actor award at this year's ceremony.
"Stupid Jimmy Kimmel, who still hasn't recovered from his horrendous performance and big ratings drop as Host of The Academy Awards, especially when he showed he suffered from TDS, commonly known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, to the entire World by reading on air my TRUTH about how bad a job he was doing that night, right before he stumbled through announcing the biggest award of all, "Picture of the Year," Trump said on Truth Social.
"It was a CLASSIC CHOKE, one of the biggest ever in show business, and to top it off, he forgot to say the famous and mandatory line, 'AND THE WINNER IS.' Instead he stammered around as he opened the envelope.
"Supposedly his wife, and even management, begged him not to do it, 'DON'T READ HIS TRUTH, JIMMY, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS,' they said. He was made to look like a FOOL, which he is, and at the same time go down in Television History as the WORST HOST EVER OF THE ONCE VAUNTED ACADEMY AWARDS!"
Kimmel responded to Trump's latest post on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, dubbing him "Ranta Claus" and saying the real-estate tycoon should spend his time off from court with his family.
Update 04/23/24 4:55 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include further information on Jimmy Kimmel and Donald Trump's feud.
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