Jimmy Kimmel and Zohran Mamdani Team Up for Scathing On-Air Takedown of Trump, Leaving Studio in Uproar

By Sarah Ellison The New York Times November 23, 2025

LOS ANGELES — In a moment of unscripted political theater that bridged late-night comedy and city hall, Jimmy Kimmel welcomed New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as his guest Thursday night on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” where the duo unleashed a synchronized roast of President Trump that mocked his threats to withhold federal aid from the city and his last-minute endorsement of Mamdani’s rival — a savage exchange that sent the studio audience into frenzied cheers and ignited a fresh wave of backlash from the White House.

The appearance, billed as a post-election debrief, quickly devolved into a 15-minute tag-team assault as Mr. Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist who stunned the nation with his nine-point victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo on November 4, traded barbs with Mr. Kimmel over Mr. Trump’s furious reaction to the upset. Mr. Trump, who endorsed Mr. Cuomo — running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary — the night before the election, had posted on Truth Social: “Let’s see how a communist does in New York. We’re going to see how that works out. We’ll help them. We want New York to be successful. We’ll help them a little bit.” The president’s “help” included threats to slash the city’s $10 billion in annual federal funding, prompting Mr. Mamdani to quip during his victory speech: “To get to any of us, you’ll have to get through all of us.”

Mr. Kimmel kicked off the segment with a montage of Mr. Trump’s mispronunciations of Mr. Mamdani’s name — “Zoh-ran Ma-man-dee” — intercut with clips of the president’s “Quiet, piggy!” retort to a female reporter last week. “Donald, you called a journalist a piggy, but now you’re threatening to starve New York because a socialist won? That’s not tough — that’s tantrum,” Mr. Kimmel said, leaning into the camera with his signature deadpan. “Zohran, you beat Cuomo, the guy Trump called his ‘favorite Democrat,’ by 16 points after his endorsement. What’s that say about the Trump bump?”

The studio — a packed house of Los Angeles progressives and ticketed fans — lost it, erupting in a chant of “Trump! Bump! Trump! Bump!” that drowned out the house band. Mr. Mamdani, dressed in a sharp navy suit with his signature olive-green pocket square, leaned forward with a grin: “Jimmy, it says the Trump bump is like his hair — looks solid from afar, but up close, it’s all hot air. He endorsed Cuomo the night before, and I won by 30 points in the final tally. If that’s help, I’ll take the threats — at least they’re consistent.” The crowd howled, many on their feet as confetti cannons fired spontaneously, extending the ovation for nearly a minute.

Mr. Kimmel then dropped what he called the “brutal receipts”: a split-screen graphic juxtaposing Mr. Trump’s 2024 campaign promise of “no more blue-state bailouts” with his administration’s $2.5 billion in COVID-era aid to New York — funds now at risk amid the feud. “You’re the first Muslim mayor, the youngest in a century, and Trump’s already plotting payback,” Mr. Kimmel said. “But Zohran, you said in your speech: ‘If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it’s the city that gave rise to him.’ Savage — and true.” Mr. Mamdani doubled down: “New York birthed Trump, but we’ll bury his policies. Rent freezes, universal childcare, no more billionaire tax breaks. He can withhold the funds; we’ll build without them. Watch us.”

The takedown, which Mr. Mamdani later called “never saw coming” in a post-show X clip, blindsided the Trump orbit. At Mar-a-Lago, where the president was convening a Saturday donor strategy session, aides described a scene of “spinning chaos.” Three people familiar with the gathering, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mr. Trump, alerted mid-brunch by a buzzing phone from press secretary Karoline Leavitt, demanded the segment be streamed on a conference room screen. As Mr. Mamdani’s “hot air” line landed, the president reportedly slammed his fist on the table, face flushing crimson: “That socialist punk and Kimmel — they’re a disgrace! Cut the aid, freeze it all!” Ms. Leavitt, monitoring from D.C., texted allies accusing the duo of “coordinated smears,” while communications director Steven Cheung drafted a rebuttal framing Mr. Mamdani as a “commie puppet.”

By 1:32 a.m., Mr. Trump had fired off a 400-word Truth Social screed: “Crooked Jimmy Kimmel teams up with NYC Communist Zohran Mamdani — a total disaster waiting to happen — to attack ME over helping New York! Low-rated loser Kimmel spreads Fake News. We’ll see how socialist NYC does without federal $$! #MAGA #AmericaFirst.” The post, viewed 11 million times by midday Sunday, drew cheers from MAGA diehards but rebukes from New York Republicans like Representative Elise Stefanik, who tweeted: “Cut the threats — New York needs partnership, not payback.” Don Jr. amplified the feud, posting a meme of Mr. Kimmel as a “deep-state jester” with Mr. Mamdani as his “commie sidekick,” but even he faced pushback from upstate donors wary of alienating the city.

The viral clip — #KimmelMamdaniRoast hit 10.2 million posts on X, with TikTok duets of the “Trump bump” line racking up 28 million views — has shattered fragile post-election alliances. Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, hailed it on MSNBC as “a masterclass in holding power accountable,” while Republicans fractured: Senator Lindsey Graham urged restraint on Fox News, calling the threats “counterproductive” amid midterm jitters. A Cygnal poll released Saturday shows Mr. Trump’s approval at 38 percent — a low — with New York independents fleeing by 18 points post-election.

For Mr. Mamdani, whose upset victory — powered by a record field operation of 50,000 volunteers focused on affordability — has positioned him as a progressive beacon, the Kimmel spot cements his outsider edge. “Jimmy’s platform reaches millions who need to hear New York’s story,” he told reporters post-taping. Mr. Kimmel, whose contract expires in May, shrugged in a post-credits clip: “If roasting hypocrisy sparks progress, guilty. Zohran, you’re welcome anytime — bring the rent freeze blueprint.”

ABC executives, navigating FCC heat from Mr. Trump’s ally Brendan Carr, demurred on comment, but sources say they’re prepping for affiliate pushback like September’s suspension. Late-night peers piled on: Stephen Colbert staged a mock “Mamdani vs. Trump Debate,” with Mr. Kimmel as moderator.

In a polarized media age, the duo’s takedown transcended TV: a reminder that laughter, laced with receipts, can flip power dynamics. As clips flood feeds and Mar-a-Lago fumes, Mr. Mamdani’s words echo: “You’ll have to get through all of us.” With City Hall looming January 1, Trump’s threats may test that resolve — but for now, the crowd’s roar says New York’s ready.