Robert De Niro roasts Trump in four-minute spoof on Jimmy Kimmel’s comeback
Oscars winner appears as an FCC chief in a satirical exchange about free speech and politics on a revived late-night program
Robert De Niro made a surprise cameo on Jimmy Kimmel's comeback show Tuesday night, appearing as a spoof head of the Federal Communications Commission who targets Donald Trump in a four-minute skit. The Academy Award winner, 82, took on a mob-enforcer vibe familiar from his film roles as he bantered with Kimmel, 57, over questions of free speech and media power.
"You tell Whoopi over there she better show a bit of respect, or the only view she'll be getting is from under the George Washington, the bridge, not the guy," De Niro joked. Kimmel played along, asking if he was appointed by Trump. "Sir Trump, yes I used to do some work for the man here and in Atlantic City," he replied.
"It seems like the FCC is using mob tactics to suppress free speech?" Kimmel asked, to which De Niro shot back: "What the f*** did you just say to me?" The exchange continued with De Niro declaring, "I am the f****** FCC. I can f****** say whatever the f*** I want," as the two leaned into the spoof on government power and press freedom.
"You can't curse, or we will get fined by the FCC," Kimmel replied, prompting De Niro to quip, "Stop that, it's just me Jimmy. The chairman of the FCC gently suggesting that you gently shut the f*** up." He continued: "We're charging by the word now, depends on what you want to say like you want to say something nice about how the president has beautiful thick yellow hair. Or how he can do his makeup better than any broad, that's free," prompting a round of applause from the audience.
"But if you want to do a joke like he's so fat he needs two seats on the Epstein jet, that's gonna cost ya." The sketch pushed the bit into sharper satirical territory by invoking a well-trafficked, if controversial, political-cultural sphere.
During the bit, the faux- office phone rang, and De Niro deadpanned: "Hi handsome, oh I'm sorry Mr. President." The skit concluded with De Niro saying he had to take care of a couple of cases of Tylenol that had fallen off a truck, a reference to a Monday press conference about autism risk claims tied to pregnancy. As the two wrapped, De Niro warned Kimmel: "I'll be watching you, Kimmel — maybe not on ABC, but that's up to you."
De Niro has long used his platform to critique Trump, often clashing with MAGA supporters outside events such as the hush-money trial in New York. The actor has repeatedly denounced the former president in interviews and public appearances, reinforcing a long-running public feud between the pair.
The appearance comes as De Niro remains a fixture of cultural headlines this year, including a high-profile moment at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where he attended the opening dinner of the 78th edition on May 13 in Cannes, France.
Kimmel's comeback show has also been a focal point of late-night cultural conversations, with the host navigating a recent controversy involving MAGA supporters and a separate on-air discussion that drew attention to how political rhetoric is handled on late-night platforms. The segment illustrates how entertainment figures intersect with political discourse, continuing a trend in which film and television stars use humor to comment on national issues while remaining firmly rooted in the celebrity-driven culture beat.