Jimmy Kimmel criticized Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, for perpetuating disinformation about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. Trump had falsely claimed that immigrants were stealing and eating pets in the area, a claim that Vance had helped spread. Kimmel called Vance a “terrible pick” and doubted that he would last until November. He played a clip of Vance defending the claim by saying he had heard it from constituents who called his office, to which Kimmel responded by mocking the absurdity of the claim.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins confronted Vance about his source for the information, pointing out that just because someone calls his office with a claim, it doesn’t make it true. Vance admitted that it was a “totally fair point,” but stood by the claim that his constituents had reported the pet-eating immigrants. Kimmel humorously suggested that Vance’s office could start receiving calls about Bigfoot sightings as well. He shared Vance’s office phone number with his audience, but advised against calling as Vance was likely busy.
Kimmel had previously used Vance’s office phone number in a joke about reporting that sprinkles on ice cream were making children gay. His repeated use of the phone number in jest was part of his ongoing criticism of Vance’s involvement in spreading disinformation. Kimmel highlighted the absurdity of the claim about pet-eating immigrants and criticized Vance for perpetuating such falsehoods. He expressed disbelief at Vance’s defense of the claim and suggested that it was made up.
Overall, Kimmel’s takedown of Vance focused on the ridiculousness of the pet-eating immigrants claim and the harm it could cause by spreading misinformation. Kimmel highlighted the responsibility that public figures like Vance have to verify information before sharing it, especially when it involves stoking fear and prejudice. By ridiculing Vance’s defense of the claim and sharing his office phone number in jest, Kimmel aimed to show the absurdity of the situation and call out the dangerous consequences of spreading false information.
