Donald Trump‘s effort today to praise his new Homeland Security Secretary and defend him from mocking by Jimmy Kimmel kind of backfired.
“I never heard low-level MMA,” the former Apprentice host said of the former Senator from Oklahoma on Thursday on Fox News’ The Five. On Jimmy Kimmel Live! on March 25, the host had taken a few swipes at newly confirmed DHS chief Markwayne Mullin for his fighting past and ownership of a plumbing company. “HJe had a very good record in fighting, but, you know, that’s unimportant, but he is sort of a fighter. But more than you know, I call him country smart”
Sounding a lot like calling some one dumb but dressing it up, the phrase “country smart” got a lot of laughs among The Five hosts after their chat with Trump via phone concluded. Whether or not Mullin is country smart, country strong or just fits Trump’s casting instincts, POTUS could contain himself when it came to his old foil Kimmel.
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“I’ve watched this guy,” Trump proclaimed of the ABC late-nighter. “Yeah, he’s a loser.”
Warning up to his usual themes when it comes to Kimmel, who was pulled off the air by Disney brass late last year for a week after a dust-up with Nexstar and Sinclair-owned ABC affiliates over comments the host made about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Trump went full throttle with some encouragement from the FNC gang
“He gets no ratings, none,” Trump claimed of the acclaimed comedian who is one of his constant critics. He’s got no talent.”
Near the tail end of a wide ranging and factually challenging time on The Five that was more monologue that interview, Trump went on” He’s got Trump Derangement syndrome. I mean, I whatever I watch. I just can’t believe that he’s even on the air. He shouldn’t be on the air. You know, in the old days when you didn’t have good ratings, or you didn’t have any ratings, practically, you get fired. He should be canned.”
Of course, Disney now had no intention of canning Kimmel anytime soon and likely wants him to stick around more after his current contract expires in May 2027.