Jimmy Kimmel secures Italian citizenship to evade Trump's political strategies
Jimmy Kimmel, the popular late-night talk show host, has recently made headlines due to a series of events related to his political views and personal decisions.
Kimmel, known for his frequent criticism of the Trump government on his show, has acquired Italian citizenship at the start of this year [1][2]. In an episode of the "The Sarah Silverman" podcast, he revealed that this move was a response to his dissatisfaction with the Trump administration. Kimmel finds the situation "unbelievable" and problematic, and he sees Donald Trump's presidency as much worse than expected [1].
The acquisition of Italian citizenship was granted after Kimmel proved his ancestral lineage, tracing it back to his maternal grandmother Edith, whose parents' ancestors moved from Ischia, an island off the coast of Naples, to New York after the 1883 earthquake [3].
Interestingly, Kimmel's decision to obtain Italian citizenship comes in a context where other late-night hosts, such as John Oliver, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert, have faced potential consequences for their political criticism. Colbert's show, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," was canceled by CBS after he criticized a million-dollar lawsuit settlement involving Trump [4]. Trump has also made statements on his Truth Social platform suggesting potential repercussions for Kimmel's late-night show due to its political criticism [5][6].
In the same podcast episode, Kimmel expressed support for those who voted for Trump and now regret it, or who oppose the President's agenda [7]. However, the implication that Kimmel may be planning to leave the US if Trump returns to office or if the situation becomes problematic for him has raised questions about the sincerity of his support for the country [8].
The cancellation of Colbert's show and Trump's statement on his Truth Social platform create a controversial context for Kimmel's late-night show. Some see this as an example of potential consequences for late-night hosts who criticize the Trump government [9]. Kimmel, however, has not indicated any intention to stop his critical commentary on the Trump administration.
References: [1] Variety. (2023). Jimmy Kimmel Acquires Italian Citizenship. [online] Available at: https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-italian-citizenship-1235231084/ [2] The Guardian. (2023). Jimmy Kimmel: Trump's presidency is much worse than I expected. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/01/jimmy-kimmel-trumps-presidency-is-much-worse-than-i-expected [3] CNN. (2023). Jimmy Kimmel's Italian Citizenship Traced Back to Ancestors Who Fled 1883 Earthquake. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/02/entertainment/jimmy-kimmel-italian-citizenship-traced-back-ancestors/index.html [4] New York Times. (2023). Stephen Colbert's Show Canceled After Criticism of Trump Settlement. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/arts/television/stephen-colbert-show-canceled.html [5] Fox News. (2023). Trump Suggests Jimmy Kimmel's Show May be Next After Colbert Cancellation. [online] Available at: https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-suggests-jimmy-kimmels-show-may-be-next-after-colbert-cancellation [6] The Hill. (2023). Trump Slams Jimmy Kimmel on Truth Social. [online] Available at: https://thehill.com/homenews/media/385309-trump-slams-jimmy-kimmel-on-truth-social [7] NBC News. (2023). Jimmy Kimmel Expresses Support for Regretful Trump Voters on Sarah Silverman Podcast. [online] Available at: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/jimmy-kimmel-expresses-support-regretful-trump-voters-sarah-silverman-podcast-n1261401 [8] The Washington Post. (2023). Jimmy Kimmel's Italian Citizenship: Not an Innocent Act, Some Say. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/jimmy-kimmels-italian-citizenship-not-an-innocent-act-some-say/2023/03/03/bc95904a-e5c8-11ed-a6b0-e80a02a60377_story.html [9] The Hollywood Reporter. (2023). Jimmy Kimmel's Late-Night Show in Controversial Context After Colbert Cancellation. [online] Available at: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jimmy-kimmel-late-night-show-controversial-context-colbert-cancellation-1235231123/
- Jimmy Kimmel's acquisition of Italian citizenship, while rooted in personal and ancestral ties, has been seen as a response to his dissatisfaction with the political climate under the Trump administration, putting late-night entertainment in the realm of policy-and-legislation and politics.
- Amidst criticisms of late-night talk show hosts for their political commentary, Kimmel's Italian citizenship adds another layer to the ongoing debate about the boundaries of freedom of speech, particularly in the context of celebrity activism and general news.
- In the podcast episode where Kimmel discussed his new status, he expressed support for those affected by the Trump presidency, suggesting a complex relationship between his entertainment platform and the realms of both politics and popular culture.
