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

The late-night host made a direct appeal to the president, but the White House dismissed him as a 'talentless hack with failing ratings'.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Jimmy Kimmel used his late-night show to ask President Donald Trump to let him host the upcoming White House Correspondents' Dinner. However, the White House responded by calling Kimmel a 'talentless hack' with 'failing ratings' who no one wants to 'watch or listen to'.

Why it matters

The annual White House Correspondents' Dinner is a high-profile event that traditionally features a comedian as the host. Kimmel's request to host the dinner and the White House's harsh rebuke highlight the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and late-night comedians who have frequently criticized the president.

The details

Kimmel noted that past hosts of the dinner have included comedians like Al Franken, Ray Romano, Seth Meyers, and Jon Stewart. However, this year the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) tapped mentalist Oz Pearlman as the headline entertainer instead of a comedian. Kimmel called this decision a 'cop-out' and directly appealed to Trump to let him host the dinner, offering to create a custom award called 'The Correspondy' just for the president.

  • On March 2, Trump announced he would attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner for the first time as president.
  • The White House Correspondents' Dinner is set for April 25, 2026.

The players

Jimmy Kimmel

The host of the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! who made a direct appeal to President Trump to let him host the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Donald Trump

The former president who announced he would attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner for the first time since 2011, when he attended as a celebrity guest.

Davis Ingle

A White House spokesperson who responded to Kimmel's request by calling the late-night host a 'talentless hack with failing ratings'.

Oz Pearlman

A mentalist and Emmy Award winner who was announced as the headline entertainer for the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner instead of a comedian.

Weijia Jiang

The president of the White House Correspondents' Association who said Pearlman would provide 'a fascinating glimpse into what's truly on the minds of Washington's newsmakers'.

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What they’re saying

“Nobody in their right mind wants to watch or listen to Jimmy Kimmel, who is a talentless hack with failing ratings.”

— Davis Ingle, White House spokesperson (Fox News Digital)

“Mr President, please let me host this dinner. 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!”

— Jimmy Kimmel (The Wrap)

The takeaway

This exchange highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and late-night comedians who have frequently criticized the president. It also reflects the WHCA's efforts to move away from the 'politics of division' by booking a non-comedian entertainer, which Kimmel criticized as a 'cop-out'.