Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel found an unexpected way to criticize President Donald Trump this week.
By turning one of Trump’s most famous political nicknames back on him.
The moment came after Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, where the New York Knicks faced the San Antonio Spurs in front of a packed crowd.
While Trump’s appearance generated significant attention, it was what happened during the game that quickly became a talking point across social media.
Trump’s visit brought heightened security throughout the area, causing traffic delays and longer wait times for fans entering the arena. His appearance on the Jumbotron during the national anthem also sparked a mixed reaction from the crowd.
That reaction became a major focus of Kimmel’s Tuesday night monologue.
The ABC host played clips from the game and joked about the crowd’s response when Trump appeared on the giant video screen. Kimmel suggested organizers may have hoped the national anthem would discourage negative reactions from fans.
According to footage shown during the segment, that strategy did not appear to work.
But the biggest moment came later in the evening.
Kimmel highlighted video clips that appeared to show Trump sitting courtside with his eyes closed during portions of the game. The late-night host quickly seized on the footage and used it to make a political point.
For years, Trump frequently referred to former President Joe Biden as “Sleepy Joe” during campaign rallies, interviews, and public appearances. The nickname became one of Trump’s most recognizable political attacks.
Now, Kimmel argued, Trump was finding himself on the receiving end of similar criticism.
The comedian joked that Biden may have enjoyed watching the footage and continued making references to Trump’s long-running attacks on his political rival.
The segment quickly gained attention online as clips from both the game and Kimmel’s monologue circulated across social media platforms.
Trump’s appearance at the NBA Finals was already drawing headlines because of the extraordinary security presence surrounding the event. However, the debate over crowd reactions and the viral courtside footage soon became the dominant story.
The episode also highlights the continuing battle between Trump and late-night television personalities, many of whom regularly criticize the president and his policies.
As the political landscape continues to intensify ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, moments like this are likely to remain a source of both political debate and media attention.
Whether supporters viewed the criticism as unfair or critics saw it as justified, one thing is clear: a nickname that Trump used for years against Joe Biden has now been turned back against him.
And that irony was exactly what Jimmy Kimmel wanted viewers to notice.