O'Donnell Closes Kimmel Guest Run with 'Danny Boy' Parody Roasting Trump

Key points

• O'Donnell ended her guest hosting run on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' on Friday, August 22, 2026, with a monologue and a song.
• She performed a revised version of the Irish tune 'Danny Boy,' renaming it 'Donny Boy' to target President Trump.
• The lyrics included jabs about Trump's falling polls, the color of the Reflecting Pool, and a call for him to resign.
• The White House responded to her week of monologues by calling her a 'nasty woman' and a 'total slob' in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.
• O'Donnell thanked the audience and Kimmel, referencing the right to free speech and mocking the president as a 'hungry, hungry hypocrite.'

Background

O'Donnell's guest hosting run followed a week of monologues that included nicknames for Trump such as 'Mango Mussolini' and 'Oompa J. Loompa.' The feud between the comedian and the president dates back to 2006, when O'Donnell mocked his bankruptcies on 'The View.' O'Donnell has also cited the political climate as a reason for relocating to Ireland during Trump's presidency.

How outlets are covering it

Deadline and Variety both reported on the White House's hostile response to O'Donnell's monologues, quoting the same statement from a White House spokesperson. Deadline emphasized the final song performance as the climax of her run, while Variety highlighted the broader context of the feud and O'Donnell's support for Kimmel's First Amendment stance. Both outlets noted that O'Donnell's representative declined to comment on the White House's statement.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and late-night television, as well as the use of satire as a form of political commentary. The White House's response underscores the administration's sensitivity to criticism from media figures, while O'Donnell's performance reinforces the role of late-night shows as a platform for political satire.

What to watch

It is unclear if the White House will take further action against O'Donnell or if Kimmel will face any consequences for hosting her. The incident may also influence future guest hosting decisions for 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' and other late-night shows.