Kimmel Scolds Trump Over Dinner with Saudi Crown Prince, Calls Guest List “Cartoonishly Evil”
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A recent White House dinner hosted by former President Donald Trump for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has drawn sharp criticism, with comedian Jimmy Kimmel labeling the gathering as an assembly of “cartoonishly evil” figures.
During his Wednesday night monologue on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, the comedian condemned the event, directly criticizing the decision to host a leader U.S. intelligence agencies have linked to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In 2021, U.S. intelligence concluded that Crown Prince bin Salman approved the 2018 killing.
Trump Defends Bin Salman Amid Controversy
The criticism follows statements made by Trump earlier this week, where he defended the Crown prince and downplayed Khashoggi’s death. “A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about,” Trump said during a Tuesday press conference, referring to Khashoggi as “extremely controversial.” He continued, “Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen, but he knew nothing about it.”
A Troubling Guest List
Kimmel highlighted the composition of the dinner’s guest list, suggesting it resembled a gathering of supervillains. “So naturally, Trump had a big fancy dinner for him,” Kimmel stated. “All the best people were there, including Trump, the evil prince, JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, even Stephen Miller showed up, which is unusual as he rarely feeds outside his terrarium.”
He further noted the presence of Elon Musk, quipping, “It was like an alumni dinner for the Legion of Doom. This group is so cartoonishly evil,we might actually need Austin Powers to defeat them.” The comedian also alluded to the Crown Prince’s alleged ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein, adding another layer of concern given the ongoing scrutiny of the epstein files.
The event underscores the complex geopolitical relationships the U.S. maintains with Saudi Arabia, even in the face of serious human rights concerns. The dinner and subsequent defense of the Crown Prince by the former president are likely to fuel further debate about the balance between strategic interests and ethical considerations in foreign policy.
Watch Kimmel’s full monologue here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOUR_YOUTUBE_LINK_HERE
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.
Expanded News Report:
Why: Former President Donald Trump hosted a dinner for Saudi Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, sparking criticism due to the Crown Prince’s alleged involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the controversial guest list.
Who: The key figures involved are Donald Trump (former U.S. President), Mohammed bin Salman (Saudi Crown Prince), Jamal Khashoggi (murdered journalist), and jimmy Kimmel (comedian who criticized the event). Guests included JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, Stephen Miller, and Elon Musk.
What: Trump hosted a private dinner for Crown Prince bin Salman at his Mar-a-Lago resort. The event drew condemnation from Kimmel, who characterized the attendees as “cartoonishly evil.” Trump later defended the crown Prince,downplaying his alleged role in Khashoggi’s death.
**How did
