Members of the fictional rock band Spinal Tap reunited on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote the long-awaited sequel "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues," and used the appearance to make a pointed reference to President Donald Trump’s immigration-enforcement agency.
Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer appeared Monday night in character as Marty DiBergi, Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls. During a conversation about the band’s backstage rider — which, in the gag, includes 12-packs of Dentyne Ice gum — host Jimmy Kimmel observed that the members’ aversion to actual ice was "something unusual to have in common." That exchange prompted Reiner, as DiBergi, to deliver the line: "We don't like ICE to come backstage and take anybody away from us," a clear reference to raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The remark drew cheers from the studio audience.
The original mockumentary, This Is Spinal Tap, debuted in 1984 and has since become a cult classic. The cast reunited on Kimmel as part of promotional appearances for the sequel, which continues the film’s satirical take on rock-band excess and show-business absurdities. The on-air joke tied that satire to an ongoing and contentious policy debate over immigration enforcement in the United States.
Reiner has a history of publicly criticizing President Trump. In prior interviews and public statements, he has been an outspoken critic of the administration and its policies. The Kimmel appearance marked one of several recent instances in which entertainers used late-night platforms to comment on political issues while promoting creative projects.
The brief exchange underscores how performers and creators often blend promotion with political commentary on late-night television. No release date or further details about the sequel were announced during the segment, and the band’s appearance focused on maintaining the comedic persona established in the original film while referencing current events.