American television host Jimmy Kimmel has taken another swipe at U.S. President Donald Trump over his repeated desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, using his late-night television programme to make jokes about the president’s pursuit of the prestigious award.
During the October 8 edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the comedian devoted part of his opening monologue to Trump’s public statements about deserving the honour, ahead of the announcement of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Kimmel joked that the annual Nobel announcement had become another opportunity for Trump to express disappointment over not receiving international recognition for his diplomatic efforts.
The comedian also played a compilation of Trump’s previous remarks about the award, highlighting how frequently the president has raised the subject.
During the monologue, Kimmel compared the Nobel Peace Prize with awards presented in Hollywood, suggesting that the international honour carried greater significance than the entertainment industry’s trophies.
He then turned his attention to Trump, joking that the president would react emotionally if he failed to win.
Kimmel’s comments focused on Trump’s repeated assertions that his administration had helped resolve several international conflicts.
Trump has frequently cited his diplomatic interventions as evidence that he deserves recognition for promoting peace. However, the effectiveness and lasting outcomes of some of those efforts remain disputed.
Kimmel also criticised the president’s statements about Iran, particularly his warnings that Iranian attacks could threaten American cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego.
The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded on October 9 to Navi Pillay.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognised the 85-year-old South African jurist for her longstanding work defending international law, human rights and accountability for serious international crimes.
Pillay previously served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and held judicial positions in international courts.
Her career has included efforts to strengthen international justice and promote accountability for human rights violations.
The announcement meant Trump once again missed out on an award he has repeatedly said his peace initiatives merit.
Trump reacted critically to the decision, questioning the Nobel Committee’s judgment and accusing it of allowing political considerations to influence the award.
During a political rally in Syracuse, New York, on October 9, he criticised the decision to recognise Pillay and repeated his claims about helping to bring several international conflicts to an end.
Trump also described Norway’s failure to award him the prize as a lasting embarrassment for the country.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee makes its decisions independently of the Norwegian government.
Trump’s dissatisfaction with the award is not new. He has previously questioned why former President Barack Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, arguing that his own diplomatic achievements deserve similar recognition.
In January 2026, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, presented her medal to Trump in a symbolic gesture.
However, the Nobel Committee has made clear that the honour cannot be transferred from one recipient to another.
Kimmel has regularly used his ABC late-night programme to criticise Trump’s policies, statements and political activities.
His latest remarks are part of a longstanding exchange between the television host and the president, who has also publicly criticised Kimmel and other late-night comedians.
The Nobel Peace Prize controversy has given Kimmel another subject for political satire, particularly as Trump continues to defend his record on international diplomacy.
Although the comedian delivered his remarks before the official announcement, the subsequent decision to award the prize to Pillay rather than Trump gave renewed attention to the monologue.
The episode reflects the continuing intersection of entertainment and American politics, with late-night television programmes serving as platforms for public commentary on presidential actions and international developments.
