Jimmy Kimmel takes a dig at Melania as the Late Night hosts join Stephen Colbert.
Jimmy Kimmel Reignites Melania Feud as Colbert, Fallon, Oliver, Meyers Take on Trump
May 12 2026, Published 12:43 p.m. ET
Jimmy Kimmel revived his feud with First Lady Melania Trump on late-night TV Monday. Stephen Colbert brought together the Strike Force Five hosts for one of the last episodes of The Late Show.
Kimmel joined Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers on the May 11 episode.
The group joked about President Donald Trump’s ongoing fixation with late-night television and Kimmel’s recent encounter with the First Lady. This appearance came as Colbert prepares to end his long-running CBS show on May 21.
Colbert asked if the hosts ever imagined, as young comedians, that they would have jobs the president of the United States would care so much about.
“You know what’s even weirder? Doing a job that his wife cares about,” Kimmel replied, referring to Melania Trump.
Meyers responded, “Most of us have avoided that part.” Oliver then joked about Kimmel’s reaction when the controversy first came up in their group chat.
“It’s amazing to get a text from Jimmy saying, ‘Oh, boy,’ followed by a picture of Melania upset with him,” Oliver said.
Fallon added that he told the group he “liked it” and thought the First Lady “had a point.”
The comment made the hosts laugh and let them reflect on how closely the Trump White House followed late-night comedy.
The Kimmel-Melania conflict began when Kimmel joked about her during a segment related to the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
Kimmel encourages subscribers to cancel Paramount+ in protest to Colbert's show ending.
Melania, who is rarely outspoken, blasted Kimmel, and Trump demanded that ABC takes him off air. Kimmel has maintained his defiant approach, continuing to reference the incident on air and during appearances with other late-night hosts.
The reunion also allowed the hosts to discuss Colbert’s upcoming departure from CBS. Many have criticized his exit as politically motivated since the new parent company, Paramount Skydance, reportedly has ties to the Trump administration.
Colbert, Kimmel, Fallon, Meyers, and Oliver previously collaborated in 2023 for Strike Force Five, a limited-run podcast launched during the Writers Guild of America strike to support staff who were out of work.
The podcast ran for 12 episodes and allowed the hosts to connect in a more casual setting than their nightly programs.
Meyers joked about Trump posting about late-night shows while they air.
“The thing I like is that he always posts when the show actually airs,” Meyers said. “I appreciate that he is watching linear television.”
Kimmel noted that the format still has an audience beyond traditional TV, especially through clips on social media. Colbert’s final weeks have included several notable guests, with David Letterman also scheduled to return before the finale.
Kimmel enjoyed a ratings boost after the First Lady’s criticism, showing there is a big audience for the political commentary from late-night comedians.
For Colbert, the gathering turned one of his last weeks on The Late Show into a farewell with hosts who truly understand the challenge of turning nightly political chaos into comedy.