Jimmy Kimmel was humiliated recently on his own show after trying to goad Arnold Schwarzenegger into an attack on President Donald Trump.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is having a week to remember—and it’s not for a new movie or even his Netflix series FUBAR. The former California governor delivered a political masterclass on not one, but two progressive Disney talk shows—first shutting down Jimmy Kimmel and then doubling down on The View.
Arnold Schwarzenegger on Jimmy Kimmel Live – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
In both instances, the hosts appeared eager to bait Schwarzenegger into bashing President Trump. Instead, they were met with something they didn’t expect: level-headed calls for unity, reverence for the American system, and an unwavering belief that this country is still the greatest on Earth.
The Kimmel Setup
While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Arnold Schwarzenegger was pressed to comment on President Trump’s recent legal threat to withhold federal education funds over California’s controversial schooling policies. Kimmel framed his question in a way that implied a shared disdain for the 45th president.
“Do you, as someone who has experience with predators, how would you handle Donald Trump in this situation where he is threatening to withhold federal funding from our students, from our schools, from disabled students?”
Kimmel even referenced a far-fetched idea floated by Governor Gavin Newsom—that California could withhold its federal tax contributions in protest. But Schwarzenegger wasn’t playing along.
Arnold Schwarzenegger on Jimmy Kimmel Live – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
“Well it sounds always easy, doesn’t it?” he said. “It sounds easy, but I mean—it doesn’t happen. Because every individual in California pays taxes: state tax, local tax, and federal tax. So how are you going to stop them from doing that? Then if the IRS is coming after you… this is—look, I just want everyone to know—this is all dialogue. This is rhetoric. The left going after the right, the right going after the left.”
Instead of joining the pile-on, Schwarzenegger flipped the conversation, saying what many Americans are thinking.
“The bottom line is they should get together rather than always pointing the finger at each other. They should really get together and solve this problem because that’s what the American people want.” The American people sitting in Kimmel’s audience then burst into applause.
Kimmel Tries Again—Gets Shut Down Again
Kimmel, perhaps surprised at the lack of anti-Trump fire, tried once more.
“Yeah well, it seems like our president doesn’t want to have this problem solved,” he said, once more trying to steer the conversation against Trump. “He wants to create problems here in our country.”
Jimmy Kimmel speaks to Arnold Schwarzenegger on Jimmy Kimmel Live – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
But Schwarzenegger wasn’t interested in blaming one side.
“People always say to me, ‘Oh my God, what’s going on in America right now?’ And I said to them, ‘Relax.’ I came over here in 1968, where it was a disaster. Martin Luther King was assassinated. Bobby Kennedy was assassinated. There were riots left and right because of Vietnam. Then the attack on the Democratic convention in Chicago. Then Watergate. And the thing went on and on.”
He then continued uninterrupted.
“America will always get out of this mess. Believe me, this will be solved. This issue, Los Angeles—always a great city to come to. I’m very, very proud of Los Angeles. I think the key thing here is that the federal government and the state and the locals work together to solve those problems.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger on The View – YouTube, The View
And then, Schwarzenegger delivered a message rarely heard on late-night TV.
“Let me tell everyone here, I travel a lot and I just came back from Europe. And today—as much as 50 years ago—the same amount of people come up to me and say, ‘Arnold, please can you help me to get to America?’ They do because it’s the greatest country in the world. It is the best country in the world. No matter who is leading it… people come and go. But this always will be the greatest country.”
A screenshot of Jimmy Kimmel crying on TV after the election of Donald Trump – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
And if that wasn’t patriotic enough, he closed with heartfelt gratitude.
“I cannot wait to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America. And to just once again say thank you, America, for bringing me into this country and showing me this enormous generosity. Everything that I’ve ever accomplished in my life is because of America. That’s the bottom line.”
Kimmel, visibly thrown off by the answer, changed the subject awkwardly: “You… uh… what were you doing in Europe?”
Not a One-Off: The View Gets the Same Treatment
Just days later, Schwarzenegger would appear on The View, where the hosts tried again to push him into ideological alignment on immigration, ICE, and border policy. Once again, he wouldn’t play ball.
Arnold Schwarzenegger sits with the cast of The View – YouTube, The View
“When you come to America, you’re a guest, and you have to behave like a guest,” the former California governor and Austrian immigrant said. “Rather than committing a crime or being abusive.”
He emphasized legal immigration and civic duty.
“You have a responsibility as an immigrant to give back to America and to pay back to America and go and do something for your community… make this a better place.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger on The View with Sunny Hostin – YouTube, The View
Pressed further by Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin, he stayed consistent.
“All of this is happening because we don’t have immigration reform. Democrats and Republicans have to come together… If they want to be party servants, and be party hacks, and be tied to their ideology, then it won’t happen.”
Final Thoughts
In the span of one week, Schwarzenegger—an immigrant, Republican governor, and proud American—refused to engage in partisan mudslinging on two of the most ideologically left-leaning talk shows on TV. Instead, he delivered a steady, rational, and patriotic message that fell into the sensible center and resonated far beyond the studio audiences. In doing so, he reminded viewers that America’s strength is not in its politicians—but in its people, its principles, and its perseverance.
Arnold Schwarzenegger on The View – YouTube, The View
Kimmel and Goldberg may not have gotten the soundbites they were hoping for—but America got something better: the truth.
How do you feel about Arnold Schwarzenegger embarrassing Jimmy Kimmel on his own show? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
So it seems Arnie back to being an alpha now. I hope so.
I don’t buy Soy Arnold’s redemption arc. He’s not that good of an actor.
Holy cow. It has been nearly 20 years since I’ve said this but “Yeah, way to go Arnold!” You’d think he was getting ready to run for President; maybe he’s testing the waters to see how people react to him if he were to run for some congressional seat?
And his “This too shall pass,” statement is true, but also not true. There are points of no return, and we’re lucky we avoided finding those potholes thanks to Trump.
Of course Trump isn’t perfect but he is a damn sight better than anyone the democrats had, or even have today while the Conservatives have a deep bench to draw from.