US late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has poked fun at Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth after he highlighted billionaire entrepreneur Palmer Luckey during a speech in which he said the US Department of Defence would have no place for what he described as “fatties, beardos and weirdos”.
Kimmel addressed the comments during his monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, October 1, while the programme was being filmed in Brooklyn.
Hegseth made the remarks during his “State of the Force” address, where he outlined his approach to leadership within the US military. Kimmel seized on the comments and questioned the contrast between Hegseth’s statement and the people he subsequently praised.
The comedian also referenced Hegseth’s announcement of a new group of leaders associated with an initiative known as Project Meridian.
A segment of the programme then showed Hegseth mentioning several prominent figures, including Elon Musk, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Luckey.
Kimmel used the moment to draw attention to Luckey, the founder of defence technology company Anduril Industries, joking about his distinctive appearance and questioning why Hegseth had singled him out.
The host then displayed an image of Luckey wearing a Hawaiian shirt, sporting a mullet and goatee, before continuing with his comedic take on the appointment.
Kimmel also joked about the Trump administration frequently introducing unfamiliar figures into prominent roles, using Luckey’s inclusion as the latest example.
The segment formed part of Kimmel’s broader commentary on Hegseth’s speech and recent developments surrounding the US military.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs on ABC on weeknights at 11:35pm Eastern Time.
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