TT Jimmy Kimmel defends his criticism of Mullin: “I’m angry because he’s no longer a plumber.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday defended his criticism of newly minted Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s resume, despite receiving attacks from conservative pundits.
Kimmel questioned Mullin’s credentials for the role, pointing to his past employment as a “low-level MMA fighter and a plumber.” The DHS chief most recently represented Oklahoma in the U.S. Senate, until he was confirmed as President Trump’s replacement for Kristi Noem.
“Listen, let me make this very clear, I’m not upset that the head of Homeland Security used to be a plumber. I’m upset that he isn’t still a plumber,” the ABC host said during his opening monologue Thursday evening.
The comedian added that conservatives went “nuts on every channel” about his comment.
“Of course, they decided to twist that to say it was an insult to plumbers, which it was not,” Kimmel continued. “I wouldn’t put a plumber in charge of Homeland Security for the same reason I wouldn’t call a five-star general to pull a rat out of my toilet. We all have our areas of expertise.”
During a live taping of Fox News’s “The Five” on Thursday, President Trump called Kimmel “a loser” in response to his comments about Mullin.
“He’s a loser. He gets no ratings. None. He’s got no talent. He’s got Trump Derangement Syndrome,” Trump said. “Whenever I watch him, I just can’t believe he’s even on the air.”
Kimmel has accused conservative commentators of a double standard, pointing to right-leaning stations’ coverage of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-N.Y.) background as a bartender.
“Well, on behalf of bartenders everywhere, we anxiously await your apology,” the comedian said.
The late-night host has an ongoing feud with the president, and he frequently criticizes his administration’s policies during his late-night show.
Last year, Trump celebrated when ABC temporarily pulled the comedian off the air for making a joke about the reaction to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last September. When he was reinstated, the president blasted ABC for bringing the show back.
