Kimmel Asks Trump to Let Him Host Correspondents' Dinner, White House Calls Him 'Talentless Hack'

Jimmy Kimmel used his Tuesday night monologue to make a direct appeal to President Donald Trump: let him host the upcoming White House Correspondents' Dinner. The White House was not amused.

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle responded bluntly. 'Nobody in their right mind wants to watch or listen to Jimmy Kimmel, who is a talentless hack with failing ratings,' Ingle told Fox News Digital.

The exchange followed Trump's announcement on 2 March that he would attend the annual dinner for the first time as president. Trump skipped every White House Correspondents' Association dinner during his first term and the first of his second. The last time he attended was in 2011, as a celebrity guest.

'It will be my Honor to accept their invitation, and work to make it the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER, OF ANY KIND, EVER!' Trump wrote on Truth Social on 2 March.

The dinner is set for 25 April.

Kimmel Calls Mentalist Pick a 'Cop-Out'

During his 3 March monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host noted that the dinner has traditionally been emceed by a comedian, listing past hosts including Al Franken, Ray Romano, Seth Meyers, and Jon Stewart. 'I googled it this morning - turns out I even hosted it back in 2012,' he said.

This year, the WHCA tapped mentalist Oz Pearlman as the headline entertainer instead of a comedian. Pearlman, an Emmy Award winner and America's Got Talent breakout known for guessing people's ATM PINs, was announced on 26 February, the WHCA confirmed.

Kimmel was not impressed. He acknowledged Pearlman was an 'amazing performer' but called the decision not to book a comedian a 'cop-out.' He then turned directly to camera.

'Mr President, please let me host this dinner,' Kimmel said. 'I've never asked you for anything, but can you imagine you, me, the commissioner of the FCC, all at a table together? Think of the ratings!'

He offered to sweeten the deal with a custom award. 'I'll give you a brand-new award. The Correspondy! The Dondy Correspondy. No one will ever get it besides you,' Kimmel joked, The Wrap noted.

WHCA Dropped Comedian For Second Straight Year

The decision to go with Pearlman over a comedian marks the second consecutive year the WHCA has bypassed the traditional format.

In 2025, the association initially booked comedian Amber Ruffin to headline but cancelled her appearance after the Trump White House criticised the choice. The WHCA said at the time it wanted to move away from 'the politics of division.'

WHCA president Weijia Jiang, a CBS News senior White House correspondent, said Pearlman would provide 'a fascinating glimpse into what's truly on the minds of Washington's newsmakers.' She added the association was 'happy the president has accepted our invitation,' Variety said.

Kimmel And Trump's Running Feud

Kimmel's FCC reference pointed to a specific chapter in his ongoing clash with the administration. In September 2025, Kimmel made controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk's assassination that prompted FCC chairman Brendan Carr to threaten action against Disney. The network suspended Kimmel's show for roughly a week, though the FCC played no direct role in that decision.

Trump has repeatedly targeted Kimmel on Truth Social over the past year, calling the host a 'bum' with 'no talent' and demanding he be pulled off air. He also publicly celebrated the brief suspension.

Kimmel closed his pitch borrowing Trump's own language. 'This is our destiny together, you and me. Think about it. Let's make it the greatest, hottest, most spectacular dinner of any kind ever,' he said.

The WHCA did not respond to requests for comment on Kimmel's offer.