By Katherine Tinsley
2:43am PDT, Apr 23, 2025
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Jimmy Kimmel didn't hesitate to mock
Donald Trump in his Monday, April 21, monologue.
"What are the chances Trump declares himself Pope?" Kimmel asked. "They are not low. They are not low."
"As I'm sure you know, Pope Francis passed away this morning," the comedian said before adding, "don't clap for that, you'll go right to h***."
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Jimmy Kimmel noted that it was fitting Pope Francis passed away right after Easter.
"The Pope — who was very well-loved, he seemed to be a kind and humble man — had been in poor health. But he sucked it up, he rallied, he delivered a message at Easter Mass, and then he passed away this morning," Kimmel said. "Is there anything more Catholic than waiting until Monday to die so you don't upstage Jesus Christ?"
"I don't think there is. It's the Pope version of a mic drop. Really," he joked.
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The pope was often critical of the Donald Trump administration, and in his final hours, he urged J.D. Vance to have compassion for immigrants.
"Hours before his passing, Pope Francis met briefly at the Vatican with, of all people, Vice President J.D. Vance. Oh, man. What a way to go, huh? I mean, 'Holy Father, do you have any last wishes?'" Kimmel said.
"'Not this! Not this! Not a, not a meet and greet with Vice President Maybelline! No, thank you,'" he joked, referencing allegations that Vance wears eye makeup for public appearances.
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Despite their differences, J.D. Vance honored Pope Francis on X after he died.
"I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis," the Ohio-native wrote. "My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him."
"I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill," he continued. "But I'll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul."
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During
their meeting, J.D. Vance reportedly told Pope Francis, "It's good to see you in better health."
Despite his meeting with Vance, the religious leader seemingly shaded Donald Trump's policies in his holiday message.
"How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants," Francis wrote in his Easter address.
