Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish kicked off ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s guest-hosted summertime shows on Monday by claiming that opposition to Team USA striker Folarin Balogun’s red card was the first time President Trump has “ever defended a black person.” Similarly, when weather delayed Trump’s 4th of July festivities, Haddish found it ironic that the MAGA crowds had to take shelter in the African American History Museum.
Haddish would have taped her monologue before knowing the disappointing result of Monday’s game, so she claimed:
Tonight was the big World Cup match between the U.S. and Belgium. One of our star players—now, one of our star players was supposed to be suspended from tonight's game, but Donald Trump personally called the head of FIFA to get the player reinstated, which is surprising because Trump doesn't know anything about soccer and it's the first time he ever defended a black person. He's growing, y'all! He is growing! He's growing. I'm so proud of him. I’m so proud of him. Yes.
Tiffany Haddish kicked off Jimmy Kimmel's summertime guest hosts by claiming "Tonight was the big World Cup match between the U.S. and Belgium.... now, one of our star players was supposed to be suspended from tonight's game, but Donald Trump personally called the head of FIFA to… pic.twitter.com/lceP42EUri
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) July 7, 2026
It is true that Trump called FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, but there is no compelling evidence to suggest that is the reason why Balogun was allowed to play. Furthermore, Trump has appointed black people to cabinet positions in both terms and endorsed them in primary elections, but since when has Jimmy Kimmel Live! let facts get in the way of a quick cheap shot?
Speaking of cheap shots, later in her monologue, Haddish turned to Saturday night’s inclement weather:
Now, Trump was forced to delay his 4th of July speech due to the hot and stormy weather. In fact, some MAGA fans had to seek shelter in the African American History Museum. You're welcome, again. That's right. It was so hot outside, a bunch of white grandpas had to learn about Frederick Douglass. Found out that was they cousin.
Later, Haddish did something similar with the 4th of July, "Trump was forced to delay his Fourth of July speech due to the hot and stormy weather. In fact, some MAGA fans had to seek shelter in the African American History Museum. You're welcome, again. That's right. It was so… pic.twitter.com/25g2ZHYPYx
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) July 7, 2026
Only someone who believes the most cartoonish of caricatures about conservatives would believe they don’t know who Frederick Douglass is or suggest that they support Trump because they are all descendants of slave owners that could make them distantly related to Douglass’s white father.
Here is a transcript for the July 6 show:
ABC Jimmy Kimmel Live!
7/6/2026
11:41 PM ET
TIFFANY HADDISH: Speaking of scoring, tonight was the big World Cup match between the U.S. and Belgium. One of our star players—now, one of our star players was supposed to be suspended from tonight's game, but Donald Trump personally called the head of FIFA to get the player reinstated, which is surprising because Trump doesn't know anything about soccer and it's the first time he ever defended a black person. He's growing, y'all! He is growing! He's growing. I'm so proud of him. I’m so proud of him. Yes.
…
Now, Trump was forced to delay his 4th of July speech due to the hot and stormy weather. In fact, some MAGA fans had to seek shelter in the African American History Museum. You're welcome, again. That's right. It was so hot outside, a bunch of white grandpas had to learn about Frederick Douglass. Found out that was they cousin.
