Guest host Colman Domingo used his opening monologue on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Wednesday to subtly criticize former President Donald Trump, comparing his cognitive exams to fictional stories.
Domingo, without naming Trump directly, alluded to the former president's cognitive fitness during a segment where he discussed right-wing backlash to the cast of the new film "The Odyssey." He joked about Elon Musk's purported plan to create a "historically accurate" version of the epic poem using AI, emphasizing that "The Odyssey" is a work of fiction.
"You can’t make a historically accurate version of something that is totally made the fuck up," Domingo said. "I mean, ‘The Odyssey’ is fiction, you know, like ‘The Hunger Games’ – or the president’s cognitive exams."
Domingo also commented on the criticism of the film's diverse casting, referencing a joke about Helen of Troy being a Black woman. He further needled Musk, noting that "this week, Jimmy Kimmel is a beautiful Black man."
The monologue touched on the controversy surrounding the casting of "The Odyssey," with some right-wing figures expressing displeasure over the diverse cast. Domingo's remarks offered a comedic take on these reactions and drew a parallel to perceptions of Trump's mental acuity.