Kimmel mocks Trump UN escalator incident as late-night comeback rakes in viewers

Jimmy Kimmel opened his first show back in nearly a week with a nod to the week’s most talked-about political moment, posting a playful Instagram tribute that referenced President Donald Trump’s United Nations escalator misadventure. The post, shared Friday by Kimmel’s sidekick Guillermo Rodríguez, shows Rodríguez near the top of an escalator with the caption, “Headed to Brooklyn! Escalator is working great!” The moment served as a lighthearted jab at Trump as he and first lady Melania Trump attended the UN General Assembly earlier this week.

The escalator incident itself occurred Tuesday in New York, when the couple reached an upper level of the United Nations venue and the escalator abruptly stopped. Trump later described the moment on Truth Social as part of a broader grievance, writing that the event was “not one, not two, but three very sinister events!” He claimed that it was remarkable that he and Melania did not fall, given their grip on the handrails, and he suggested that those responsible should be arrested. The White House also cited a Sunday Times report noting UN staff jokes about turning escalators and elevators off as part of an alleged prank targeting the president.

Beyond the escalator mishap, Trump told the crowd that the teleprompter had failed and that the audio quality was poor during his UN address, adding to a running narrative of logistical hiccups that his supporters have cited as mixed signals about the administration’s foreign policy messaging. The incident quickly became fodder for late-night monologues, with Kimmel’s return to air on Tuesday drawing significant attention as his opening remarks became the show’s most-watched YouTube segment, drawing roughly 22 million views.

Kimmel had been pulled from the air the previous week after remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination drew heavy backlash and subsequent calls for the network to pull the show. He later described Trump as a “bully” in remarks addressing the controversy, saying that many people believe he should remain on air because his commentary centers on a bully who “deserves to be joked about.” In discussing his own return, Kimmel noted that, while some viewers had urged him to be quiet, he chose to continue addressing Trump and other political topics because of the bully dynamic he perceives in public discourse.

The revival of Kimmel’s show occurred as networks and local affiliates navigated a renewed push to air late-night programming amid a cautious broadcasting environment. Disney, which oversees ABC, announced on Monday that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return to ABC. The decision had previously been complicated by affiliate groups Sinclair and Nexstar, which had initially paused the program. Sinclair, which operates 38 ABC affiliates, announced Friday that it would begin airing Kimmel on all its stations again, indicating that it had weighed viewer feedback and concerns about violence in recent days. In a statement, Sinclair cited “troubling acts of violence,” including a shooting at an ABC affiliate in Sacramento, as part of the broader context for its decision to resume airing the program. Nexstar, which runs 32 ABC affiliates, followed suit later that day with a similar rationale, adding that its move to resume air was independent of any government action and rooted in a belief in free speech and the role of local stations in deciding programming.

The host’s return comes with ongoing political discourse surrounding Trump’s UN appearance and the surrounding commentary in the media. Earlier in the week, Kimmel referenced the president’s UN visit in the context of his broader critique of political leadership and the role of media in shaping public perception. In addition to his back‑and‑forth with Trump supporters, Kimmel has continued to address internal controversies surrounding his program, emphasizing that his focus remains on holding public figures to account rather than on personal attacks. As the week progressed, the network’s messaging underscored a commitment to maintaining a platform for dialogue across a spectrum of viewpoints, even as affiliates exercise editorial control in local markets.

The broader political moment remains unsettled as lawmakers, media analysts, and the public digest the unfolding dynamics around presidential messaging, media access, and the logistics of live events. The UN escalator episode has already become a touchstone for discussions about presidential preparedness and infrastructure at international forums, while Kimmel’s return has multiplied attention to late-night satire’s evolving role in national political conversations.