-(4)-1731951738-q80.webp){kind=small}
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel condemned Donald Trump for his comments on the California wildfires, calling the president-elect’s response “disgusting” and “unsurprising.”
The fires, which have ravaged more than 40,000 acres, including areas in Altadena and Pasadena, have left devastation in their wake.
Trump sparked outrage by blaming firefighters and state officials on his Truth Social feed, writing, “The fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out.
Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place... they just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?”
Reacting on the January 13 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel accused Trump of attacking those risking their lives.
“I don’t want to get into all the vile and irresponsible and stupid things our alleged future President and his gaggle of scumbags chose to say during our darkest and most terrifying hour,” Kimmel said.
He criticized Trump for targeting firefighters, stating, “The fact that they chose to attack our firefighters—who apparently aren’t white enough—is disgusting. But it’s not surprising.”
Kimmel, visibly emotional, described the week as “very scary, very stressful, very strange,” adding, “It’s been terrible. Everyone in LA knows someone—families, friends, neighbors—whose house has burned down, and the truth is we don’t even know if it’s over yet.”
Despite the heartbreak, Kimmel praised the courage and compassion shown by emergency workers and residents. “We’ve seen countless examples of bravery, from neighbors helping each other to volunteers who’ve lost everything themselves still showing up to aid others,” he said.
The Pacific Palisades fire, which has burned more than 40,000 acres, was only 13% contained as of Monday morning. The Eaton Fire in Altadena and Pasadena, covering over 14,000 acres, was 27% contained.
Emergency workers from multiple states have been brought in to assist in firefighting efforts.
Kimmel concluded by showing footage of uplifting moments during the crisis, highlighting the resilience of communities under literal fire.
He acknowledged the profound loss but celebrated the strength of people coming together, stating, “This has been a sickening, shocking experience, but also, in many ways, a beautiful one.”
