On the somber Wednesday evening, against a backdrop steeped in poignant emotions, Jimmy Kimmel found himself grappling with the urge to conceal his tears during his poignant opening monologue. He lamented deeply, expressing his grief that Donald Trump's triumphant return to the presidency in the 2024 elections had cast an ominous shadow across nearly every facet of American society—and even beyond its geographical borders. As he hosted his first show following Trump's victory over Kamala Harris in the White House race, the emcee of Jimmy Kimmel Live enumerated a series of vulnerable individuals and social groups whom he believed would suffer greatly under Trump's second presidency.
"Let's face it, last night was a catastrophic night," Kimmel, a lifelong Democrat, admitted with a heavy heart. "It was a night of despair for women, for children, for the countless diligent immigrants who keep this nation afloat…" His voice trailed off as he paused, choking on his sorrow and taking a moment to compose himself. "For healthcare, for our fragile climate, for science, for journalism, for justice, for free speech," he continued, his voice steadying. "It was a night of sorrow for the impoverished, the middle class, seniors relying on social security, and our allies in Ukraine," Kimmel added, his eyes welling up with tears once more. "For NATO," he resumed, regaining his composure, "for truth, democracy, and morality—it was a night of despair for everyone who voted against him."
Kimmel further contended that it was even a "disaster" for Trump's most ardent MAGA supporters. "Guess what? It was a bad night for everyone who voted for him too—you just haven't realized it yet," he quipped, earning applause from the studio audience. "Most of all, it was an unmitigated disaster for Melania [Trump, the incoming first lady]," he joked.
However, Kimmel acknowledged that there were some beneficiaries of Trump's victory, pointing to dictators, some of the world's wealthiest individuals, and Trump's prospective head of healthcare, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "But it was indeed a golden night for [Vladimir] Putin and polio, for the beloved billionaires like Elon Musk and the Silicon Valley bros, and all the twisted minds who sold their remaining souls to bow down to Donald Trump," he remarked.
Kimmel's analysis came amidst Trump's stunning political resurgence, securing a historic second term in the White House four years after leaving office. The Republican candidate surpassed the crucial threshold of 270 Electoral College votes early Wednesday, triumphing in several pivotal battleground states. Republicans are now poised for an electoral trifecta, with the Senate flipping to GOP control and Democrats trailing in the House, with several races still undecided.
