Jimmy Kimmel suggested that President Donald Trump's decision to ban reporters from three major news organizations from the White House is a tactic to avoid hearing unfavorable information, especially as his approval ratings decline ahead of the midterm elections.
"As his popularity continues to plummet, Trump’s fingers go deeper and deeper into his ears," Kimmel said on his show Monday night, referencing the president's alleged tendency to ignore bad news. "He does not want to hear bad news. Bad news is fake news to Donald Trump."
Kimmel characterized the ban as an attack on the free press, stating, "They hurt his feelings, and so they’re not welcome in his house anymore."
The late-night host then played a clip of Trump speaking about the ban. During the clip, Trump said, "There’s something wrong with a country that can allow people to write purposely negative stories. Now, if they want to write them, that’s fine. But I don’t have to let them into my, into the people’s house."
Kimmel highlighted a moment in Trump's statement where he appeared to almost call the White House "my house" before correcting himself to say "the people's house." "He almost slipped and told the truth there!" Kimmel exclaimed. "It’s the people’s house that he knocked down without consulting any of the people."