Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert Offer Rare Praise to Trump After Gaza Ceasefire: “Trump Deserves Some Credit – Good Job on That”

In an unexpected turn, late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert extended rare praise to former President Donald Trump for his role in brokering a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas — a deal that resulted in the end of bombings and the release of all remaining Israeli hostages.

Both hosts addressed the development during their Monday night monologues, highlighting the significance of the breakthrough while still mixing in their usual humor and criticism of Trump.

“What a rare day for Donald Trump,” Kimmel said on his show. “You know what? He actually did something positive today, and I think he deserves credit for it — because we all know he’s not exactly one to downplay his own achievements.”

He continued, “This is only the beginning of what will surely be a long and complex process, but the fact remains: the bombing has stopped, the hostages are free, and Trump played a role in making that happen. It might sound strange coming from me, but — good job on that one, President Trump. Now maybe don’t invade Portland next. Just a suggestion.”

Kimmel also joked about Trump’s long-standing ambition for a Nobel Peace Prize, saying, “If awards are what motivate him to make peace, fine by me. Let’s create new ones — like the ‘Nobel Prize for Reopening the Government and Leaving Healthcare Alone.’”

On The Late Show, Colbert also acknowledged the development: “There’s actually good news today. Thanks to a ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump, all surviving Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners have been released. That’s a big deal. Credit where credit is due — Donald Trump did something good.”

Pausing for comedic effect, Colbert looked offstage and joked, “Are we still canceled? You sure? I tried.”

Later in his monologue, Colbert played a clip of Trump telling Fox News, “There isn’t anything that’s going to get me into heaven.”

“I agree with Donald Trump,” Colbert said, shifting to a more serious tone. “While he’s working to bring peace to the Middle East, he’s also doing just as much to stir unrest in the Midwest. As someone who lived over a decade in Chicago, it’s horrifying to see what he’s doing to my former home. ICE is terrorizing neighborhoods in the city, going door to door near elementary schools, arresting immigrants — even legal ones — and U.S. citizens, with no due process, and tear-gassing journalists just for reporting it.”

Kimmel and Colbert have both been outspoken critics of Trump for years. This year, both hosts and their shows have clashed with federal agencies.

Kimmel’s show was briefly pulled from the air after he made comments regarding the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and Trump’s response to it. After the show returned, Trump blasted Kimmel on social media, calling him “Democrat GARBAGE” and hinting at potential legal action against ABC.

Colbert’s show on CBS was canceled earlier this year amidst Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media. While the network cited financial reasons, some media analysts speculated that the cancellation may have been politically motivated to appease Trump during the merger approval process. Trump commented on social media that he wasn’t “solely responsible” for the show’s cancellation, claiming Colbert was fired due to “a pure lack of TALENT” and the show’s high production costs.

You can watch Kimmel and Colbert’s Monday night monologues in the videos below.