Country music artist Jelly Roll drew attention on Monday, June 9 when he guest-hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! and included jokes about President Donald Trump in his opening monologue. The remarks centered on Trump’s weight, physical fitness, and a recent IndyCar event in Washington, D.C.
Jelly Roll’s remarks included a comparison of his own weight loss to Trump’s reported physical condition. He stated, “In the last few years, I’ve lost 300 pounds. That means I’ve lost an entire Donald Trump,” and added, “From one fat pig to another, take it from me that physical fitness is very important. Trust me, you’ll be happy to see your penis again.”
The jokes followed Trump’s participation in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, where he and First Lady Melania Trump completed an honorary lap in a presidential limousine and waved the green flag to start the race. Jelly Roll referenced this event, saying, “Let’s talk about the main event of America this weekend. It was the big IndyCar race hosted by the president… What a s** job! How do you f*** up waving a flag?”*
Reactions to the monologue varied among audiences. Some supporters of Trump criticized Jelly Roll for the remarks, with social media posts calling him a “traitor” and accusing him of abandoning his “blue-collar, working class” image. Others defended the jokes as part of late-night comedy, with Jelly Roll responding on Tuesday, June 10 by stating, “Any U.S. president should be able to handle a few jokes,” and adding, “Go right ahead,” in reference to fans threatening to stop listening to his music.
Trump’s approval rating was cited in the monologue, with Jelly Roll referencing a Reuters/Ipsos survey placing Trump at 33% approval and 64% disapproval, tying his lowest rating during his presidency. The White House responded to the polling data, stating that Trump had “signed the largest middle-class tax cuts in history, lowered the cost of prescription drugs, sealed the border, driven violent crime to the lowest level in nearly a century, unleashed an energy revolution and sent Americans’ 401(k)s climbing to record highs.”
Jelly Roll also addressed the backlash in his Tuesday appearance, joking about the attention his remarks received. He said, “As a former felon and drug dealer, who has lost 300 pounds, has tattoos all over his face—and won three Grammys—this is the weirdest thing I’ve ever done to ‘stun’ people.”
The incident highlights ongoing debates about the boundaries of political humor in entertainment and the expectations placed on public figures regarding their political neutrality.