Late-Night Hosts and Obama Deliver Sharp Rebuke to Trump, Sparking Presidential Outburst Amid Storm Response Criticism

WASHINGTON — In a rare convergence of entertainment and politics, former President Barack Obama joined Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night program Monday to deliver a pointed critique of President Donald J. Trump, prompting an immediate and unusually public eruption of anger from the White House.

The segment, broadcast live on ABC, drew the highest ratings of the season for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and quickly became the most-watched clip on streaming platforms overnight. It came at a moment of acute political tension, as Mr. Trump faces mounting criticism over his administration’s handling of Hurricane Elena, which has left parts of the Southeast without power and drinking water for days.

Mr. Obama, who has largely avoided public commentary since leaving office, appeared as a surprise guest. He began by recalling his own experiences with Mr. Trump during the 2016 campaign and transition, then turned to what he called “the most recent episode of presidential theater” — a chaotic rally in Pennsylvania last week during which Mr. Trump reportedly became visibly agitated after learning that Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, had issued a statement barring the president from entering certain state facilities.

“Some people lose their composure when they’re told they can’t get their way,” Mr. Obama said to laughter from the studio audience. “Others just keep talking louder until they convince themselves they’re still in charge.”

Mr. Kimmel followed with a segment titled “The Piggy King,” a biting monologue that replayed clips of Mr. Trump’s rally remarks, including his repeated claims that the storm response was “the best ever” and that critics were “radical left lunatics.” Kimmel juxtaposed those statements with images of flooded neighborhoods and stranded families, then quipped, “If this is the best, I’d hate to see the worst.”

The studio audience responded with sustained applause. Online, the segment amassed more than 40 million views within hours, with #PiggyKing trending on social media alongside memes that paired Mr. Trump’s facial expressions from the rally with images of cartoon pigs.

Within minutes of the broadcast ending, Mr. Trump posted a series of messages on Truth Social. The first read simply: “Jimmy Kimmel and Obama — two of the most overrated, failing clowns in television history. They are destroying America!” A follow-up message accused the pair of “lying about the hurricane” and claimed that “the radical Democrats are blocking FEMA from helping people because they hate me.”

White House aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the president as “furious” and said he had summoned senior staff to the residence late Monday night to discuss a response. One aide said Mr. Trump had watched the segment multiple times, pacing and muttering about “traitors” and “the deep state.”

The timing of the exchange added to its potency. Mr. Trump’s administration has faced bipartisan criticism over the slow deployment of federal resources to hurricane-affected areas. Gov. Shapiro’s statement last week — which noted that the president was “not welcome” at certain emergency operations centers unless invited — was seen by some as a symbolic rebuke, though the governor’s office later clarified it was a logistical decision.

Democrats seized on the late-night segment as evidence of Mr. Trump’s thin skin. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York posted on X: “When the president of the United States is more upset about a late-night joke than about people without power, that tells you everything you need to know.”

Republicans, however, accused Mr. Obama and Mr. Kimmel of politicizing a natural disaster. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas called the segment “cruel and unnecessary,” adding that “millions of Americans are suffering, and the left is laughing at their president.”

The episode underscored the continuing polarization of the media landscape. Mr. Kimmel has long been a vocal critic of Mr. Trump, while Mr. Obama has generally maintained a more reserved public presence. The former president’s decision to appear on the program appeared to be a deliberate escalation, one that political analysts said could signal a more active role in the coming year as Mr. Trump’s term progresses.

For now, the White House has given no indication of further comment. But late Monday, as the clips continued to circulate, one thing was clear: the intersection of comedy, politics and presidential temperament remains as volatile as ever.