Jimmy Kimmel makes direct appeal to Trump to let him host the White House Correspondents Dinner

March 4, 2026

A close-up of a man in a suit looking at the camera. The caption reads,

Donald Trump has announced that he's planning to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner for the first time as U.S. president, but rather than a comedian — who traditionally makes jokes about the sitting president — it'll be hosted by mentalist Oz Pearlman.

Jimmy Kimmel is unimpressed, but in the clip above he does suggest a possible solution.

"This feels like a cop-out to me, and I want to address the president directly on this," says Kimmel, turning to face a side camera. "Mr President, please: Let me host this dinner. I've never asked you for anything before. Can you imagine you, me, the commissioner of the FCC, all at a table together? Think of the ratings! I'll even throw in an award."

In fairness, people would definitely tune in.

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