Actor Diego Luna wrapped up his week of guest hosting ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday by giving an ode to Kimmel, where he claimed that the regular host is needed to preserve democracy.
Luna claimed that, “I know there is a lot of focus in your media about the differences between our cultures and the violence south of the border, but I hope, this week, I was able to open up the dialogue. We should be doing more of that. Telling our stories and finding what connects us. Yeah. We shouldn't let our cultural exchange be divided by borders, by ignorance, by fear, or a wall built by your president.”
Next, Luna tried to suggest Trump is a dictator, “We're going through a hard time. Authoritarian leaders and expressions are on the rise, and it's happening everywhere. Leaders who attack the press, use the military against their own citizens, and claim they have the answer to everything. Does that sound familiar?”
Trying to be hopeful, Luna added, “But it's in our hands to do something. There are many ways to push back. One way is by making fun of them every night like Jimmy does. Yeah, yeah. Using comedy. Using comedy to defend freedom. They don't like that [bleep].”
Luna also insisted that, “We can't take that for granted. We, the audience, have to defend spaces like this. Without satire and voices like Jimmy's that question and challenge the abuse of power, democracy doesn't just weaken, it can disappear. And we cannot let that happen. There's a lot the rest of us can do as well. Like voting. And volunteering. And marching. Because you know what else these strong men really don't like? To be unpopular.”
Kimmel calling Trump names may make liberals feel better about themselves, but it isn’t exactly substantive. Meanwhile, the logic behind his actual critiques of Trump needs some work.
Regardless, Luna added, “There’s another No Kings protest on July 17th. So, yeah. I mean, if you're not going to a Kid Rock concert that day, maybe you can check it out. Go out. You know, by making your voice heard, you won't just make the United States of America great again, you'll help to make the world a little better.”
Luna was not done urging viewers to go to a No Kings protest. Later, he welcomed labor activist Dolores Huerta and asked her, “These are dark times, as you said. And I heard the other day an interview you gave where you said, "I hope people get upset and start doing something." And I want to ask you, I mean, how do we get them upset? What's there for us to do? What needs to happen? How do you see the near future?”
Huerta compared immigration enforcement to kidnapping as she also promoted No Kings, “Well, I think when people see what's happening in the news or people are being sent to prisons in other countries, the way the people are being treated, kind of, the brutality. People are being kidnapped off the streets. I think people are really upset about that and angry. And we do see that people are protesting. We saw 5 million people on the streets all over the United States of America. No Kings Day. People are stepping up.”
The fate of democracy does not depend on Jimmy Kimmel, but the fate of the light night comedy talk show format may depend on hosts realizing that deliberately alienating half the country is not good for business.
Here is a transcript for the June 26 show:
ABC Jimmy Kimmel Live!
6/26/2025
11:41 PM ET
DIEGO LUNA: This has really been a great week for me. And before I wrap up my final monologue, I want to say something. I know there is a lot of focus in your media about the differences between our cultures and the violence south of the border, but I hope, this week, I was able to open up the dialogue. We should be doing more of that. Telling our stories and finding what connects us. Yeah. We shouldn't let our cultural exchange be divided by borders, by ignorance, by fear, or a wall built by your president. That he paid for it, by the way.
We're going through a hard time. Authoritarian leaders and expressions are on the rise, and it's happening everywhere. Leaders who attack the press, use the military against their own citizens, and claim they have the answer to everything. Does that sound familiar?
But it's in our hands to do something. There are many ways to push back. One way is by making fun of them every night like Jimmy does. Yeah, yeah. Using comedy. Using comedy to defend freedom. They don't like that [bleep].
And we can't take that for granted. We, the audience, have to defend spaces like this. Without satire and voices like Jimmy's that question and challenge the abuse of power, democracy doesn't just weaken, it can disappear. And we cannot let that happen. There's a lot the rest of us can do as well. Like voting. And volunteering. And marching. Because you know what else these strong men really don't like? To be unpopular.
There’s another No Kings protest on July 17th. So, yeah. I mean, if you're not going to a Kid Rock concert that day, maybe you can check it out. Go out. You know, by making your voice heard, you won't just make the United States of America great again, you'll help to make the world a little better.
…
12:27 AM ET
LUNA: These are dark times, as you said. And I heard the other day an interview you gave where you said, "I hope people get upset and start doing something." And I want to ask you, I mean, how do we get them upset? What's there for us to do? What needs to happen? How do you see the near future?
DOLORES HUERTA: Well, I think when people see what's happening in the news or people are being sent to prisons in other countries, the way the people are being treated, kind of, the brutality. People are being kidnapped off the streets. I think people are really upset about that and angry. And we do see that people are protesting. We saw 5 million people on the streets all over the United States of America. No Kings Day. People are stepping up.
