Jimmy Kimmel Mocks Trump's AI Tiger Video and Cognitive Tests
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel critiqued Donald Trump's AI-generated video of wrestling a tiger and his claims of acing a self-administered cognitive test, framing both as bizarre distractions three weeks before the midterm elections.
Jimmy Kimmel criticized Donald Trump's AI-generated video of himself wrestling and befriending a tiger, calling it bizarre and questioning Trump's focus amid the midterm elections. The late-night television host spoke on Wednesday evening, with three weeks until the U.S. midterm elections. In the AI video, Trump chases, tackles, and hugs a tiger. Kimmel said the most unrealistic part was Trump running.
Kimmel speculated Trump might be bored. "I guess maybe he’s bored?" he said. "How could you be president and be bored, I have no idea." He added that Trump would definitely suplex a tiger. The host framed the video as a strange priority. We’re three weeks away from the midterm elections, and the president is laser-focused, Kimmel joked.
Context
Kimmel contrasted the AI video with a real, fatal tiger attack at a UK zoo, noting the distress caused to the victim's family by the circulation of such footage. Prior to the AI video, Trump posted a clip of William Chapman inside a tiger enclosure at a South Yorkshire zoo. Chapman had scaled a fence to enter the enclosure and was killed moments after the video was taken. His family called the circulation of the footage deeply offensive and said it was causing them severe distress.
Broader Pattern
Kimmel's critique extended to Trump's campaign activities and mental acuity claims. Trump held two rallies on Wednesday in Arizona and Montana. Kimmel joked that an 80-year-old traveling between Montana and Arizona used to do so to beat tuberculosis. At his Arizona rally, Trump reassured attendees he was continually acing a cognitive test involving repeating five words. He provided the example: 'hat, hair, logo, white, black' and repeated it before claiming he 'aced' the test. Trump later claimed that very few people can repeat the five words in order, but he can because he’s a 'frickin’ genius'.
Kimmel mocked the claim. Sir, you aced this test you just made up, he said, comparing it to testing a grandfather after falling off a stepladder. He then addressed the audience. And if you believe that, then you will also believe I’m sending you $5,000 apiece, Kimmel said. Who wants to see a genius dance to the Village People, huh?
The host also referenced a past photo shoot of Trump with an eagle. Footage from 10 years ago shows Trump flinching away from a bald eagle during a photoshoot, a contrast to the fearless tiger-wrestler portrayed in the AI clip. Kimmel ended his segment by mocking Trump's cognitive test claims, saying if people believe Trump passed it, they’d also believe he’s sending them $5,000, and joking about seeing Trump dance to the Village People.
