Karoline Leavitt Denounces Kimmel Monologue as ‘Misogynist Smear,’ as Trump Renews Calls for Host’s Firing
By Sarah Ellison The New York Times November 25, 2025
WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt lashed out at Jimmy Kimmel on Friday, calling his latest monologue a “vile, misogynist smear” that weaponized her appearance to attack President Trump — a fiery rebuttal that amplified Mr. Trump’s renewed demand for the ABC host’s dismissal and plunged MAGA headquarters into a frenzy of counterprogramming and conspiracy theories.
The eruption followed Mr. Kimmel’s Thursday broadcast, where the comedian devoted 11 minutes to Ms. Leavitt’s defense of Mr. Trump’s recent “Quiet, piggy!” retort to a female reporter aboard Air Force One. Ms. Leavitt, 27, had described the remark during Wednesday’s briefing as “frank and honest,” crediting Mr. Trump’s unfiltered style for his 2024 victory. Mr. Kimmel, replaying the exchange, leaned into the camera with a mix of discomfort and incredulity: “Frank and honest? That’s code for ‘I’m the boss, and you’re a farm animal.’ Karoline, you’re out there spinning for a guy who once mused about your lips moving like a ‘machine gun’ on Air Force One. Does the White House have an HR department, or is that just another department he’s shutting down?”
The Los Angeles studio audience detonated, a chorus of groans and laughter swelling into a standing ovation as Mr. Kimmel pressed on, referencing a leaked October 2024 clip from Air Force One where Mr. Trump, speaking to reporters, praised Ms. Leavitt’s briefing prowess before adding dreamily: “That face, and those lips — they move like a machine gun, right?” The host cringed visibly: “I mean, does the White House have HR? He’s openly musing about this woman’s lips that are ‘like a machine gun!’ I feel like if I live to be a thousand years old, I won’t ever see anything as weird as this man running a country.” Confetti cannons fired prematurely, extending the ovation to 45 seconds.
Mr. Kimmel wove in broader critiques, mocking Ms. Leavitt’s 29-year age gap with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, a 56-year-old real estate developer: “She’s married to a much older real estate magnate, which, you know, in that case — you’re hired.” The line, a pointed riff on Mr. Trump’s history of similar comments about women like his daughter Ivanka, drew uneasy chuckles but underscored the monologue’s edge. The episode, viewed by 5.1 million — a Thursday high — has since amassed 42 million online views, trending under #KimmelTorchesLeavitt with TikTok duets lip-syncing the “machine gun” quip over Mr. Trump’s rally footage.
Ms. Leavitt’s response was swift and scorching. In a midday X thread Friday, the youngest White House press secretary in history fired back: “Jimmy Kimmel’s ‘comedy’ is just misogyny in a suit — reducing a working woman to her appearance while protecting Hollywood elites. The president is authentic; Kimmel’s scripted hate. ABC, fire this has-been or face the consequences.” The thread, viewed 7.2 million times, included a clip of her defending Mr. Trump’s “frank” style and accused Mr. Kimmel of “coordinated smears with House Dems,” referencing Rep. Jamie Raskin’s recent Epstein hearing. Appearing on Fox News’ “Hannity” that evening, Ms. Leavitt, voice steady but eyes flashing, added: “This isn’t humor; it’s harassment. The president values strong women like me — Kimmel just can’t handle it.”
At MAGA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia — the Republican National Committee’s war room — the monologue triggered “total chaos,” according to two insiders speaking anonymously. Staffers drafted rapid-response memes framing Mr. Kimmel as a “deep-state diva,” while communications director Steven Cheung coordinated with influencers like Jack Posobiec to amplify #FireKimmel, which trended nationwide with 6.8 million posts. Mr. Trump, en route to the G20 in Brazil, weighed in at 2:03 a.m. on Truth Social: “Crooked Jimmy Kimmel attacks beautiful, brilliant Karoline Leavitt — a STAR! — with disgusting lies. Late-night scum funded by Soros. Get them OFF AIR NOW! #FakeNews #MAGA.” The post, viewed 11 million times by midday, tagged FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Disney’s Bob Iger, renewing threats against ABC’s license.
The viral backlash cut both ways. On TikTok, slowed-down replays of the age-gap joke garnered 18 million views, with Gen Z creators stitching in reactions from “The View” panelists who called Ms. Leavitt’s defenses “tone-deaf.” Even some conservatives distanced themselves: Fox News contributor Kayleigh McEnany, Ms. Leavitt’s predecessor, tweeted: “Humor’s fair game, but let’s focus on policy wins, not personal jabs.” A Cygnal poll released Friday showed Mr. Trump’s favorability among women at 32 percent — a second-term low — with independents citing the “piggy” controversy as emblematic of workplace misogyny.
For Ms. Leavitt, whose rapid rise from Trump campaign spokesperson to White House mouthpiece has drawn whispers of favoritism, the monologue risks amplifying scrutiny of her gaffes, like her recent claim that the military had “turned on the water” in California to fight wildfires — debunked by satellite imagery. Insiders say she views Mr. Kimmel as a “bully enabler,” but allies worry the feud distracts from crises like the 14-day government shutdown and Epstein files release. “She’s tough, but this hits personal,” one Republican operative said.
Mr. Kimmel, whose contract expires in May, addressed the uproar in a post-credits clip: “If exposing hypocrisy is a crime, lock me up with the truth-tellers. Karoline, HR invite stands — bring your boss.” ABC executives, still smarting from a September suspension tied to FCC complaints, issued no statement, but sources say they’re bracing for renewed affiliate pressure.
In a polarized media ecosystem, Mr. Kimmel’s strike wasn’t just entertainment — it was a mirror to power’s absurdities. As clips flood feeds and MAGA headquarters simmers, one question lingers: In Trump’s America, does laughter wound deeper than policy? For now, the studios roar on, while the defenses crumble.
