Kimmel Pitches Trump Joint Appearance at White House Correspondents Dinner

The late-night host makes a bold offer to host the event with the former president as the main attraction.

Mar. 4, 2026 at 11:51am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Jimmy Kimmel has extended an invitation to former President Donald Trump to join him as co-host of the upcoming White House Correspondents Dinner. Kimmel, who has sparred with Trump in the past, believes the two appearing together would generate massive ratings and make for a must-see event.

Why it matters

The White House Correspondents Dinner is an annual event that brings together journalists, politicians, and celebrities. Kimmel's pitch to have Trump join him as co-host would be a major draw and could help rehabilitate Trump's image after a contentious presidency, while also providing Kimmel a high-profile platform to continue his comedic jabs at the former president.

The details

During his late-night talk show monologue, Kimmel directly addressed Trump, saying "Think of the ratings" if the two appeared together at the dinner. Kimmel noted that the dinner is typically hosted by a comedian, and offered to give Trump a new award called "The Corresponding" that "no one will ever get besides you." However, it remains unclear if Trump will accept Kimmel's invitation, as the former president has previously refused to attend the dinner when a comedian was the host.

  • The 2026 White House Correspondents Dinner is scheduled for April 25, 2026.
  • Kimmel made his pitch to Trump during the opening monologue of his talk show on March 4, 2026.

The players

Jimmy Kimmel

A 58-year-old comedian and host of the late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" who has frequently criticized and sparred with former President Donald Trump.

Donald Trump

The 47th President of the United States, who has a contentious history with the media and has previously refused to attend the White House Correspondents Dinner when a comedian was the host.

Oz Pearlman

A mentalist who has been confirmed as the host of the 2026 White House Correspondents Dinner.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This feels like a cop out to me, and I want to address the president directly on this. Mr. President, please, let me host this dinner. I've never asked you for anything.”

— Jimmy Kimmel, Talk Show Host

“Can you imagine? You, me, the commissioner of the FCC [Federal Communications Commission], all at a table together? Think of the ratings. I'll even throw in an award. You like awards. I'll give you a brand new award. The Corresponding.”

— Jimmy Kimmel, Talk Show Host

What’s next

It remains to be seen if former President Trump will accept Kimmel's invitation to co-host the 2026 White House Correspondents Dinner. The event is scheduled for April 25, 2026, and the decision on the final host is still pending.

The takeaway

Kimmel's bold pitch to have Trump join him as co-host of the White House Correspondents Dinner highlights the continued tension and interest in the former president's public appearances. While it's unclear if Trump will accept, the potential pairing of the two public figures could generate significant media attention and interest from viewers.