Jimmy Kimmel returned from the holiday on Tuesday night to assess the surprisingly dramatic, if ultimately anticlimax, conclusion of Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial.
“Mitch McConnell tried both this weekend,” began the dawn host. “After voting for absolution, McConnell made a strong speech condemning Trump’s actions and inaction. Basically saying, ‘Donald Trump is guilty of all the things that I just found him innocent of.’ “
Instead of giving McConnell the triumphant video treatment, Kimmel played the audio of his scathing speech behind the video of a turtle eating a leaf, before playing: “It was the turtle against the crazy yellow hare.”
So, since Trump “is not allowed to tweet” and “has to write letters now,” Kimmel read aloud the seven-paragraph statement that the former president released earlier in the day. “The Republican Party will never again be respected or strong with political ‘leaders’ like Senator Mitch McConnell at his command,” said Trump, adding: “Mitch is a severe, taciturn and serious political hack, and if Republican senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again. “
“Without smiling,” Kimmel echoed. “Did Donald Trump meet your wife? Melania hasn’t smiled since 2011. ”
“Now, I must say, I think Mitch McConnell blew it,” continued the host. “This was his party’s best chance of making sure Trump never ran again.”
Finally, to bring the issue home, he offered an analogy to the viewers. “Do you remember the end of Lord of the Rings when Frodo brought the ring to the volcano and decided not to throw it in? That was an idiotic version of that. “
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