Jimmy Kimmel has joked that the “Red Wedding” has begun after the Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, in a significant setback for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.
None of the major late-night talk shows went out live on Tuesday, but ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! was taped later than usual so the host could react to the early results.
During his monologue, the 58-year-old host said: “What we do know for sure is that Democrats have officially taken the House. Thanks to President Trump. Blob Vila flipped another House! The blue wave made landfall, and now the Red Wedding begins.”
The Red Wedding is a reference to an infamous Game of Thrones scene where several of the show’s heroes were brutally massacred.
Kimmel, who has publicly feuded with Trump for years, referenced the president's recent comments about certain people’s backsides.
He quipped: “It seems to be after all the talk about Nicki Minaj’s a**, Jon Husted’s a**, the only a** on Trump’s mind tonight is the one that just got handed to him.”
The late-night star also joked: “Word from inside the White House is he’s already run out of dipping sauce containers to throw at the television set. Man, oh man, would I hate to be the DoorDash driver who delivers Trump his Papa John’s tonight?”
Kimmel earlier joked that Trump spent Election Day tuning into Fox News coverage “trying to give himself an insurrection”.
Trump, meanwhile, has insisted he is willing to work with the Democrats and will accept the results of the midterms.
He told the New York Times: “I am absolutely willing to accept those results. We’ll work with the Democrats, and we’ll, you know, look forward to working with them. We’ll probably work something out.”
Taking to Truth Social, Trump insisted his party would have claimed a “landslide” victory if he’d been “on the Ballot”.
He wrote: “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
In a phone interview with Fox News, the president blamed some Republican candidates for the loss, saying he was “a little bit surprised” and “thought they’d do better”.
Asked about his approach to working with the Democrats given the results, he added: “The power of veto is one of the stronger powers that a president has, and they'll send over things that are insane, and I'll veto them.”
Elsewhere, other Hollywood figures have also begun responding to the outcome. Henry Winkler posted on X that “dreams do come true”. Meanwhile, Bette Midler wrote on Instagram: “I am OVERJOYED! What a great, great night. Thank you, America! You've saved your beloved country!!”
Read MoreJon Stewart is so baffled by Trump’s midterm closing speech that he walks off set
Trump spokesman claps back at Bruce Springsteen over cutting El-Sayed endorsement
Kennedy Center announces honorees as Trump continues legal fight to rename building
SNL skewers ‘future press secretary’ Nicki Minaj as Trump admits ‘I might be gay’
Phoebe Waller‑Bridge offers rent‑free London flat to emerging writers
Anton Du Beke ‘embarrassed’ after being stabbed by his father
