Country music star Jelly Roll stunned many of his longtime fans when he used his guest-hosting stint on Jimmy Kimmel Live Monday night to unleash a string of crude jokes aimed at President Donald Trump.
According to Western Journal, the singer known for hits such as Save Me, Son of a Sinner and I Am Not Okay opened his monologue by mocking Trumps appearance at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix IndyCar race in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, where the president waved the green flag to start the event. Citing coverage from TheWrap, the show framed Trumps participation as comic fodder, with Jelly Roll telling the audience, Lets talk about the main event of America this weekend. It was the big IndyCar race hosted by the president.
The cars drove through the streets of D.C., and theres Donald Trump, who apparently has never held a flag before, he continued, as the crowd laughed at the presidents expense. He then escalated the rhetoric with a vulgar jab, declaring, What a s*** job! How do you f*** up waving a flag?
The material bore all the hallmarks of the Kimmel writers room, which has long trafficked in progressive talking points and anti-Trump barbs rather than the voice of a blue-collar Southern artist. As the monologue went on, the script leaned into the lefts favorite smear, with Jelly Roll delivering a race-based punchline that drew cheers from the studio audience.
The president seemed to enjoy the IndyCar race, which was a real switch-up for him because normally he only likes his own race, the artist said, prompting laughter from the crowd. A content warning preceded the segment online: WARNING: The following video clip contains vulgar language that some may find offensive.
Jelly Roll then pivoted to another well-worn late-night trope: mocking Trumps weight and health, despite his own very public struggles with obesity. He continued: Trump also drove around the track in his motorcade doing what they call the lap of honor. Which sounds like a loyalty program at a strip club: 5 percent cash back in the champagne room for all Lap of Honor members.
From there, the jokes turned more personal, targeting the presidents physical condition in a way that would almost certainly be condemned by the left if directed at one of their own. Sadly, those are the only laps Trumps been doing lately, Jelly Roll said, citing establishment media to bolster the attack.
According to The Washington Post, a lot of doctors are worried about the presidents weight, he told viewers. After his last physical, we found out Trump gained 14 pounds, which means hes now tipping the scales at almost 240.
Jelly Roll then contrasted Trumps reported weight gain with his own dramatic weight loss, turning the comparison into another punchline. Its crazy. Think about this, yall. In the last few years, Ive lost 300 lb. That means Ive lost an entire Donald Trump, he pointed out.
He added a political twist that went beyond Trump himself and implicitly targeted the tens of millions of Americans who still support the president. And lets be honest, based on his approval ratings, it seems like most of the country wants to do the same thing, he said, suggesting the nation is eager to shed Trump the way he shed pounds.
The segment then rolled archival clips of Trump ribbing others about their weight, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in an attempt to justify the fat jokes. Jelly Roll capped the bit with another coarse line: Well, if that aint the pot calling the kettle fat, he said.
He followed with an insult that many viewers found especially degrading, even by late-night standards. Well, Mr. President, from one fat pig to another, take it from me that physical fitness is very important. And trust me, youll be happy to see your penis again.
For a performer who built his brand on authenticity, redemption and connection with working-class, often conservative fans, the Hollywood-style sneering landed with a thud across social media. One YouTube commenter captured the sense of betrayal felt by many on the right, writing, Wait, hold up. Isnt Jelly Roll MAGA? Im very confused right now.
Another viewer echoed that shock at seeing a supposed everyman adopt the coastal-elite script. Um wow I was not expecting him to trash talk trump, the commenter wrote, reflecting the disconnect between Jelly Rolls roots and his late-night performance.
On X, a self-described longtime supporter expressed disappointment that the singer appeared to abandon the audience that carried him from obscurity to mainstream success. Ive been on this Rollercoaster with you for about 25 years. I worried when you went mainstream that you would forget where you come from. I see it didnt take long for that to happen smh. From a disappointed long time fan.
Another user offered a blunt reminder about the political and cultural leanings of the country and Southern music base that helped make Jelly Roll a star. Jelly Roll should remember something: a massive part of country and Southern musics audience is conservative. ???? Youre free to criticize President Trump or disagree with his politicsbut when you start insulting the people your audience includes, you risk alienating the very fans who buy your music, attend your concerts, and support your career.
The episode underscores how deeply the entertainment industrys left-wing bubble has seeped into every corner of popular culture, even artists who once seemed grounded in heartland values. Kimmels joke writers are caught in a left-coast bubble, and Jelly Roll is apparently too clueless to realize he should not be alienating Trump supporters, who no doubt make up a large swath of his fan base.
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