If it was an episode of "Real Housewives," critics would say the bit is getting stale, but it's reality, not reality TV and the president again went after arch-nemesis and late night host Jimmy Kimmel.
In the latest twist, President Donald Trump reignited his feud with Jimmy Kimmel by claiming he is a better host than the comedian. He said it during the Kennedy Center Honors, which he hosted, and where he also said it would be the highest-rated show ever.
When asked on the red carpet how he prepared to host, he told reporters, "Maybe I haven't prepared. Maybe you want to be a little bit loose. If you look at the great hosts Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, those are the greats."
But he didn't let it go there. He then added, "You look at the not so greats like Jimmy Kimmel, he was just terrible."
While onstage, Trump once again compared himself to Carson, telling the audience, "They say this is the first time that a president of the United States has ever hosted the Kennedy Center Honors … I don’t know why. I am going to try and act like Johnny Carson. I miss Johnny,” per Deadline.
Trump celebrated honorees Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, KISS, and Michael Crawford, who accepted awards from him, while saying he turned down others for being "too woke."
Trump broke tradition by hosting the Kennedy Center Honors himself, claiming he was asked to do so for higher ratings. Did it work? Ratings aren't in yet, but the president predicted while still on stage how they would look when they came in.
“This is the greatest evening in the history of the Kennedy Center – not even a contest,” Trump said with evident relish from a presidential lectern at centre stage. “There has never been anything like it and the show is already getting rave reviews.
“Now, I will say that I guarantee the fake news is going to give me horrible – ‘He was horrible as an emcee. Don’t ever let that happen again!’ But I guarantee one thing: we’re going get big ratings today. This place is hot.”
The Kennedy Center has been a lightening rod since Trump, as part of his MAGA priorities, announced plans to overhaul the board of trustees to make it "less woke," and criticized past events, including drag shows.
It's worth noting that Kimmel has never hosted the Kennedy Center Honors. He did though previously appear there in in 2012.