On Tuesday’s episode of his ABC show, Jimmy Kimmel vented his spleen for a few minutes about what he described as “brazen hypocrisy” by Donald Trump and Fox News regarding presidents who play golf during a disease outbreak. And as his example, he compared Fox and Donald Trump in 2020 with Fox and Donald Trump… in 2014.
Some background for those of you who don’t remember: In 2013 and 2014, there was a major outbreak of Ebola in Africa. Now, while Ebola is extremely serious and horrific, the outbreak never posed a serious threat to Americans. Only four people in the U.S. were infected, only one person, a Liberian man who had been turned away by a Dallas hospital once before being treated, died, and two of the other three were nurses treating that man. While it was a very serious regional outbreak, it never even approached pandemic levels.
Even so, Republicans and conservative media turned Ebola into major mid-term campaign issue in 2014. Including Donald Trump, who notably criticized state governors for not imposing mandatory quarantines. Which brings us to Kimmel’s monologue on Tuesday, which concerned the current disease outbreak and presidential golf.
“This weekend, Donald Trump by unauthorized presidential order made a sweeping declaration to open all churches, temples and places of worship in an effort to make sure that the most devout Americans get a chance to contract the coronavirus too,” Kimmel said.
“And so on Sunday morning, he went to church for the first time,” Kimmel joked. “Wait — that’s not church… he went to… golf? He went to play golf. During the pandemic. Because that’s what Jesus would do, I guess.”
Kimmel noted that Trump’s excuse is that he was trying to get some exercise, “even though he rode in a cart that he drove, adding that the point Trump “seems to be missing is that it looks bad for the president to be golfing with 100,000 Americans dead and a stay-at-home order in place.”
That’s when Kimmel fired up some clips from Fox News to show off that “brazen hypocrisy.”
The first clip, from a 2014 episode of “Fox and Friends,” featured Trump calling into the show. It begins as co-host Steve Doocy complains that Obama had gone “to the 200th round of golf in his presidency.” To that, Trump acknowledged that he loves golf, but said “you know when you’re president, you sort of say like, I’m gonna sort of give it up for a couple of years, and I’m gonna really focus on the job.”
Kimmel then played another “Fox and Friends” clip, this time from Memorial Day, in which the show’s talking heads defending Trump for “leading the way” on reopening the country — while arguing that the lockdowns and quarantines probably shouldn’t have happened in the first place. This time, Steve Doocy looked on in apparent agreement.
Said Kimmel: “Oh, so he’s a hero! He’s not golfing — he’s leading the way!”
“Do they know that it’s not safe to have your nose so far up the President’s ass right now?” Kimmel continued. “There’s a virus going around! These people, they have no shame. And no YouTube either, I guess.”
Watch the whole clip above.
The world continues to be upended by the coronavirus pandemic, with more people contracting COVID-19 as the days pass. While many have recovered, some have died from complications of the illness. These are the names of some notable figures from Hollywood and the media that we have lost.Terrence McNally, a four-time Tony Award-winning playwright, died on March 24 at the age of 81 of complications from the coronavirus. His works included "Master Class," "Love! Valour! Compassion!" and "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune," which later became a film with Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino.Getty ImagesItalian actress Lucia Bosè, who starred in such films as Michelangelo Antonioni’s "Story of a Love Affair" (1950) and Juan Antonio Bardem’s "Death of a Cyclist" (1955), died on March 23 of pneumonia after contracting COVID-19, according to the Guardian. She was 89.Getty ImagesChef Floyd Cardoz, winner of "Top Chef Masters" Season 3, died at the age of 59 of coronavirus complications on March 25.Getty ImagesMark Blum, who starred in "Desperately Seeking Susan," "Crocodile Dundee" and the Lifetime/Netflix series "You," died on March 26 of coronavirus complications. The veteran character actor and regular on New York City stages was 69.Getty ImagesMaria Mercader, a CBS News veteran who worked for over 30 years as a reporter and talent director, died March 29 after testing positive for coronavirus. She was 54.CBS NewsGrammy-winning country music singer Joe Diffie died March 29 due to complications from the coronavirus. He announced his diagnosis just two days prior.Getty ImagesAmerican rock musician Alan Merrill, best known for co-writing and recording the original version of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," died March 29 of complications from the coronavirus. He was 69.Getty ImagesPopular Japanese comedian Ken Shimura, whose career spanned decades, died March 29 due to complications from the coronavirus. He was 70.YouTubeAndrew Jack, a dialect coach who most recently was hired to work with Robert Pattinson on the new Batman movie, died March 31 of complications from coronavirus, TMZ reports. He also appeared in "Star Wars: Episode VII" as a member of Leia's resistance. Jack was 76.DisneyAdam Schlesinger, Fountains of Wayne singer and "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" contribute, died at the age of 52 from coronavirus complications on April 1.GettyEllis Marsalis Jr., New Orleans jazz legend and father of Wynton and Branford Marsalis, died at 85 from COVID-19 complications, Branford said. "Ellis Marsalis was a legend. He was the prototype of what we mean when we talk about New Orleans jazz... He was a teacher, a father, and an icon — and words aren’t sufficient to describe the art, the joy and the wonder he showed the world," New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said also.GettyEddie Large, one-half of the comedy duo Little and Large, died April 2 after contracting coronavirus while hospitalized for heart failure. He was 78.GettySergio Rossi, the Italian shoe designer, died at age 84 after being hospitalized with the virus, the brand confirmed in an Instagram post Friday.GettyPatricia Bosworth, a stage and screen actress turned journalist who penned celebrity biographies, died April 2 from complications of the coronavirus. She was 86.GettyTom Dempsey, New Orleans Saints legendary kicker who was born without toes on his right foot and wore a flat shoe that he kicked with, died on April 4 from complications of COVID-19.YouTubeJohn Prine, one of the most influential and revered folk and country songwriters of the last 50 years, died on April 6 at the age of 73 after being infected with the COVID-19 virus.GettyAllen Garfield, who appeared in such films as “The Conversation,” “Nashville” and “Irreconcilable Differences,” died April 7 due to coronavirus complications, according to his sister. He was 80.GettyCharles Gregory, an Emmy-nominated hairstylist who frequently collaborated with Tyler Perry on his films and TV shows, died of complications from COVID-19 on April 8.Charles Gregory/YouTubeHilary Heath, an actress and producer who starred opposite Vincent Price in horror movies in the late 1960s and early '70s, died in April of COVID-19 complications. She was 74.American International PicturesRick May, a voice actor best known to gamers as the husky-throated Soldier in Team Fortress 2, died in Swedish nursing home on April 13 after contracting COVID-19. He was 79.Linkedin/ValveAllen Daviau, a 5-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer, died April 15 at age 77. He frequently collaborated with Steven Spielberg, and worked on such films as "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" and "The Color Purple"GettyHenry Grimes, celebrated jazz bassist, died on April 15 at age 84, according to WGBO. He worked with such legends as Thelonius Monk, Charles Mingus and Sonny Rollins.'Knight Rider' and 'Magnum P.I.' producer Joel Rogosin died of coronavirus at the MPTF nursing home. He became the fifth person to die from COVID-19 complications at the facility.MPTFRapper Fred the Godson died after contracting coronavirus, a representative confirmed to Complex. He wrote on social media of his diagnosis on April 6, but he did not recover.GettyArt director Matteo De Cosmo, who worked on films including "Emergence," "The Punisher" and "Luke Cage," died of coronavirus complications. He was 52.Victoria DearingRoy Horn, best known as half of the legendary Siegfried & Roy magic and animal act in Las Vegas, died on May 8 from complications due to coronavirus.Celebrities Who Have Died From the Coronavirus (Photos) While many celebrities who contracted COVID-19 have recovered, some have died from complications of the illness View In Gallery
