“DISGRACEFUL!” Jimmy Kimmel Sparks Outrage With Vile Joke Targeting Karoline Leavitt’s Marriage—Critics Slam Late-Night Host for Sexist Swipe at Trump’s Young Press Secretary

LOS ANGELES, CA — In a jaw-dropping live TV moment that has triggered fierce backlash across political and media circles, late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel is facing accusations of sexism, ageism, and downright poor taste after making a shockingly personal attack against White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and her husband during a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Kimmel, never one to shy away from controversy, took aim at Leavitt’s marriage in what many are calling a “disgusting” attempt to discredit her professional accomplishments.

His crude insinuation? That Leavitt’s rise to the top job in Donald Trump’s communications team wasn’t about merit—but about who she married.

“She’s married to a much older real estate tycoon, so you’re hired in that case,” Kimmel quipped during the January 28, 2025 broadcast, delivering the punchline with a smirk that did little to soften the blow.

The audience laughed.

Millions watching at home? Not so much.

The comment, which referenced Leavitt’s 32-year age gap with husband Nicholas Riccio, immediately set off a social media firestorm.

Critics from across the political spectrum condemned the joke as not only disrespectful but alarmingly sexist—suggesting that a young woman’s success must be credited to her relationship rather than her record.

“Would he say that about a man?” asked one user on X (formerly Twitter).

“She worked her way up through one of the toughest political environments in the country.

She earned it.

This is misogyny, plain and simple.”

Others noted the irony that Kimmel, a vocal critic of Donald Trump, seemed more interested in Leavitt’s private life than in engaging with her political positions or public record.

Conservative commentators wasted no time in pointing out the hypocrisy.

“So let me get this straight,” wrote political analyst Megan Kelly, “a liberal male millionaire mocks a successful woman for marrying an older man—while supporting a party that says it believes in empowering women? Give me a break.”

Indeed, Leavitt’s résumé speaks for itself.

A rising star in Republican politics, she began her career as an assistant press secretary under Kayleigh McEnany in Trump’s first administration and later launched a congressional campaign at just 25 years old.

Before her marriage, before her fame, and before Jimmy Kimmel ever bothered to learn her name, Leavitt was already a formidable force in Washington.

“She was one of the most impressive young political talents we’ve ever had,” said the executive director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, where Leavitt studied.

“Her work ethic and command of communications strategy were exceptional from day one.”

Her relationship with Riccio, a successful New Hampshire restaurateur and real estate investor, began only after she had already built a formidable political profile.

The two met at a campaign event at Riccio’s restaurant—hardly the gold-digger narrative Kimmel tried to spin for cheap laughs.

Appearing on The Megyn Kelly Show, Leavitt opened up about their romance with characteristic humor.

“After meeting and becoming friends, we fell in love,” she said.

On the subject of their age gap, she didn’t shy away: “Yes, of course!” she acknowledged, later joking, “I walked into your life and it’s been a circus ever since.”

Apparently, the circus is still in town—this time with Jimmy Kimmel as the clown.

In a particularly tasteless follow-up, Kimmel remarked that Leavitt was now the “ringleader at the White House,” a jab that attempted to belittle both her position and her marriage in a single stroke.

The public response has not been kind.

Social media lit up with comments accusing Kimmel of crossing a red line, while others called for an apology from ABC.

Even some of Kimmel’s usual allies in the entertainment industry privately expressed discomfort with the joke’s implications.

“Late-night comedy is supposed to punch up,” wrote cultural critic Dana Schwartz.

“This felt like punching sideways—if not straight down.”

The bigger question many are now asking: Why is it still acceptable for a man on national television to suggest that a woman’s career success must be tied to her personal relationships? And would such a joke ever be tolerated if the political affiliations were reversed?

While Kimmel’s defenders say it’s “just a joke,” others argue that this kind of rhetoric plays directly into the toxic narrative that women—especially conservative women—can’t possibly succeed on their own merits.

As the controversy continues to unfold, it’s clear that Jimmy Kimmel’s jab has backfired in spectacular fashion.

Rather than discrediting Leavitt, he has spotlighted the very double standards that plague political women in the media spotlight.

Karoline Leavitt, for her part, has not publicly responded to the insult—but sources close to her say she’s focused on her role and won’t be baited into a back-and-forth with a late-night entertainer.

Still, one thing is clear: Jimmy Kimmel thought he was being clever.

Instead, he reminded the world exactly how ugly media bias and personal attacks can be when wrapped in a punchline.

Whether ABC addresses the backlash—or doubles down—remains to be seen.

But in this case, the joke’s on Jimmy.