Jimmy Kimmel Calls Out Trump, Makes Bold Statement About Floyd Riots

People around the world are talking about police brutality and acts of violence that have taken the lives of so many black men, including George Floyd. On May 25, 2020, Floyd died after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on his neck for more than 8 minutes. After being fired from the police, Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. While people are reacting to the news in a variety of ways, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel used his monologue to slam President Donald Trump's reaction to the ensuing protests in cities throughout the country. Early on May 29, 2020, around 1 a.m., President Trump used Twitter to share his thoughts about looting and to send a warning to Americans. He tweeted, "These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen. Just spoke to [Minnesota Governor Tim Walz] and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!" According to The Associated Press, Trump's tweets "...borrowed a phrase once used by former Miami Police Chief Walter Headley in a 1967 speech outlining his department's efforts to 'combat young hoodlums who have taken advantage of the civil rights campaign.' In the speech, Headley said his department had been successful 'because I've let the word filter down that when the looting starts, the shooting starts.'" Trump claimed he didn't know the origins of the phrase, but Twitter flagged the president's post, stating that the tweet violated Twitter's rules about glorifying violence. That decision spawned controversy too, and plenty of people had something to say about it, including Kimmel, who used his platform to criticize Trump's choice of words. Kimmel does not shy away from controversial topics or political discourse, and he stayed true to form when he took President Trump to task on his late show on May 29, 2020. The talk show host specifically criticized the president threatening to put members of the military and National Guard in the position of having to shoot their fellow Americans. Kimmel summed up his thoughts on the matter by saying, "Enough is enough. We gotta vote this guy out already." During the monologue, Kimmel also discussed the repetitive cycle that ensues when a racially-charged incident involving law enforcement occurs in the United States. According to Kimmel, the way the nation's commander in chief is conducting himself during this time of crisis is doing more harm than good. Trump said his tweets were misconstrued, and responded by signing an executive order to try to repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act — legislation which grants internet platforms immunity from being held responsible for user-generated content. As the president sparred with social media, Kimmel concluded his monologue by calling out an institutional double standard that has continued to leave so many people vulnerable to police injustice in the United States. Kimmel told his viewers. Kimmel called out President Donald Trump's controversial tweets, but he also attempted to keep the spotlight on the bigger issue. Kimmel said on his show, "I don't want to make this about Donald Trump, because this sense of hopelessness and frustration that black people in this country have been experiencing has been brewing for a long time. This is not on the government. It's on us." He ended his monologue with a video by actor Tyler Merritt called "Before You The Call The Cops." In the video, the actor and comedian looks directly into the camera and introduces himself by listing some of his interests: He thinks bananas are disgusting, likes basketball and hockey, and loves his mom and dad. He teaches Sunday school, has tried goat yoga, and loves Alabama Crimson Tide football. His point is crystal clear. He's a human being, not someone who can be reduced to a simple stereotype or skin color. Watch the video to learn how Jimmy Kimmel Calls Out Trump, Makes Bold Statement About Floyd Riots. #JimmyKimmel #DonaldTrump