'Literally Plot Movie': Jimmy Kimmel Roasts Trump After Venezuela Raid

Last Updated:January 07, 2026, 14:54 IST

Late-night hosts slammed the US raid in Venezuela and Maduro's capture, tying it to Trump, Epstein files, and political distraction. Maduro pleaded not guilty.

Jimmy Kimmel; US President Donald Trump (Image: X; AP)

Several late-night hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel, have shared their thoughts about the US military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of its leader, Nicolas Maduro, an act many in the international community have labelled an “abduction."

Jimmy Kimmel used his monologue on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on Monday to criticise the US action against Venezuela, linking Maduro’s capture to the controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files and framing the move as politically motivated.

Kimmel Ties Venezuela Raid With Epstein files Controversy

“If you were wondering how bad these Epstein files are for [US President Donald] Trump, turns out, they’re ‘invade Venezuela’ bad," Kimmel said.

“This is literally the plot of the movie ‘Wag the Dog’. The president gets caught in a sex scandal, so he attacks a smaller country to distract us, and here we are, distracted," he added.

Kimmel also referenced Maduro’s record while circling back to Trump. “Trump decided Maduro had to go, and yes, he’s a criminal and a dictator who’s driven his country into financial ruin, while he and his family have lined their own pockets, but Maduro is no saint either."

He also mocked Trump’s stated goals for the year, saying, “Trump claimed his new year resolution for 2026 was ‘peace on earth’, but that lasted for just under two days."

His comments are the latest flashpoint in a long-running feud with US President Donald Trump, which has included past attempts by Trump and his supporters to pressure ABC over Kimmel’s remarks. The rivalry intensified in September when ABC temporarily suspended Kimmel’s show following comments he made after the assassination of commentator Charlie Kirk, a move Trump publicly celebrated before Kimmel was reinstated amid backlash. Kimmel later revisited the episode on air, directly addressing Trump and underscoring the continuing tension between the late-night host and the US President.

What Jon Stewart Said

Meanwhile, Jon Stewart opened ‘The Daily Show’ by calling the operation unusual. “It is highly unusual… to violate the airspace and territory of another sovereign nation and hit the grab and go on their president," he said. Stewart added that US actions often have long-term consequences, saying, “Generally, that’s how this sh*t works."

On ‘The Late Show’, Stephen Colbert joked, “Do you know what this means? Those Epstein files must be crazy," while also ridiculing Trump’s remarks about governing Venezuela: “Evidently, when he says ‘America first’ he means alphabetically."

Seth Meyers, on Late Night, questioned Trump’s anti-war claims. “I still can’t actually believe anyone thought Trump was telling the truth about being anti‑war," he said.

Jimmy Fallon added on ‘The Tonight Show’, “It turns out Trump’s New Year’s resolution was to distract everyone from the Epstein files."

After his dramatic capture, Maduro was brought to New York to face multiple federal charges, including narco-terrorism. Appearing in court on Monday, he said, “I was kidnapped. I’m innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the president of my country." He has pleaded not guilty.

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