Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel has entered the political debate surrounding a federal immigration crackdown with trademark satire, dangling what he believes US President Donald Trump values most — trophies — in an attempt to get immigration enforcement officers out of Minneapolis.
During Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday night, the comedian offered Trump one of his own career awards if the president agreed to halt Operation Metro Surge and withdraw US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel from the Minneapolis area.
“It seems like the only way to get him to do anything is to give him an award,” Kimmel quipped during his monologue. “So having said that, Mr President, I believe you’ll find it very hard to turn down my offer.”
Kimmel said he was willing to part with some of his most prized possessions — including a 1999 Daytime Emmy, a Clio Award, a Webby, a Writers Guild Award, or even his tongue-in-cheek 2015 Soul Train Award for White Person of the Year. There was, however, a clear condition attached.
“You pull ICE out of Minneapolis and put them back at the borders where they belong,” Kimmel said, adding, “You have your choice. If you leave the people of Minneapolis alone, I will personally deliver any or all of these to the Oval Office.”
The segment quickly went viral on social media, with clips circulating widely as viewers reacted to Kimmel’s pointed take on what he described as transactional politics at the highest level.
Kimmel’s monologue was sparked by recent controversy surrounding Trump’s acceptance of a nobel peace prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. The gesture followed months of Trump publicly lamenting his failure to win the prestigious award himself.
“A president rarely yanks a Nobel Prize off someone else’s neck,” Kimmel joked. “He’s back in the Oval Office now, sucking on it like a pacifier.”
Displaying an image of Trump clutching the medal, Kimmel continued his satire, asking the audience, “Look at how happy he is. Have you ever seen someone that thrilled holding a trophy they didn’t actually win?”
The broader context of the joke is Operation Metro Surge, a December 2025 federal operation that deployed thousands of Department of Homeland Security and ICE personnel across the Minneapolis region. The initiative was aimed at targeting violent criminal noncitizens but has triggered widespread protests and clashes with law enforcement.
Trump has warned on Truth Social that he could invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota officials fail to “stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists” allegedly attacking ICE officers. The rarely used 1807 law allows a president to deploy the US military domestically without congressional approval.
The remarks came amid ongoing demonstrations following two ICE-related shootings in Minneapolis, one of which injured a Venezuelan man. As unrest continued, federal agents used tear gas and flash-bang devices to disperse crowds. Around 3,000 federal officers are currently deployed in the city, vastly outnumbering Minneapolis’ approximately 600 local police officers.
Kimmel also mocked what he described as the symbolic exchange surrounding Machado’s White House visit, suggesting the Venezuelan opposition leader “didn’t leave empty-handed.”
“She was seen walking out with a gift bag,” Kimmel joked. “‘Thanks for the Nobel Prize — here’s a Make America Great Again mug.’”
While Kimmel’s offer was clearly tongue-in-cheek, it underscored growing public scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics, the optics of presidential power, and Trump’s well-documented fascination with accolades — a combination that continues to blur the lines between politics, performance, and parody.
For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest World on thefoxdaily.com.
COMMENTS 0