Jimmy Kimmel didn’t need to wait for the morning-after autopsy. As Democrats swept control of both the House and Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host used his opening monologue to celebrate the “blue wave” – and roast President Donald Trump over the results.
“The blue wave made landfall, and now the Red Wedding begins,” Kimmel joked, borrowing one of Game of Thrones’ bloodiest references for an election night that turned brutal for Republicans.
Democrats captured both chambers of Congress while scoring victories deep inside territory Trump carried just two years ago. Reuters described the results as a sweeping setback for the president, while the Associated Press pointed to voter frustration over high prices, the Iran war and concerns about government corruption among the factors behind the Democratic gains.
Most of late night wasn’t around to react in real time.
The major shows did not air live Tuesday, although Jimmy Kimmel Live! taped later than usual specifically to allow Kimmel to incorporate the early election results into his monologue.
And incorporate them he did.
Kimmel noted that Democrats had officially captured the House before turning his attention directly to Trump.
After referencing the president’s recent campaign-trail comments about other people’s backsides, Kimmel joked that “the only ass on Trump’s mind tonight is the one that just got handed to him.”
He also imagined Trump spending Election Day glued to Fox News at the White House, “trying to give himself an insurrection,” before joking that staff had apparently run out of dipping-sauce containers for him to throw at the television.
Then came the delivery guy.
“Man, would I hate to be the DoorDash driver who delivers Trump his Papa John’s tonight,” Kimmel cracked.
Kimmel also took aim at Vice President JD Vance, resurrecting the infamous, and false, 2024 internet rumor involving Vance and a couch for another election-night punchline.
But beneath the jokes was a genuine political shift.
Democrats’ takeover of both chambers means Trump will face a divided government for the remaining two years of his presidency, with the opposition controlling congressional committees, legislation, investigations and, crucially, the Senate confirmation process.
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Trump, meanwhile, signaled publicly that he would accept the results. “I am absolutely willing to accept those results,” he told The New York Times, adding that he expected to work with Democrats. Reuters independently reported the comments Wednesday morning.
That conciliatory tone didn’t last everywhere.
On Truth Social, Trump argued Republicans would have won “IN A LANDSLIDE” had he personally been on the ballot. He also told Fox News he was surprised some Republican candidates had not performed better while reminding viewers that his presidential veto remains a significant check on a Democratic Congress.
Hollywood reaction began arriving almost as quickly as the election calls.
Henry Winkler celebrated the results on social media, writing that “dreams do come true,” while Bette Midler told followers she was “OVERJOYED” by the Democratic victories.
But Kimmel got there first on television.
And after years of very public sparring between the late-night host and Trump, the election gave Kimmel something he has rarely lacked an appetite for:
Material.
“The blue wave has made landfall,” Kimmel said.
Judging by Tuesday night, he may have enough for the next two years.
