In a recent segment, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, the quintessential avatar of Hollywood’s detached elite, demonstrated exactly why “flyover country” has tuned him out. Kimmel mocked President Donald Trump’s selection of Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security, sneering at Mullin’s background as a business owner and tradesman.
Kimmel, whose primary life skill involves reading teleprompters in a climate-controlled studio, took aim at Mullin’s blue-collar roots. “Before he was elected to the Senate, Markwayne Mullin was a low-level MMA fighter and a plumber,” Kimmel smirked, before launching into a hackneyed Super Mario joke. “We have a plumber protecting us from terrorism now.”
Jimmy Kimmel doesn't think Markwayne Mullin is qualified to be the Secretary of Homeland Security because he used to be plumber, "Before he was elected to the Senate, Markwayne Mullin was a low-level MMA fighter and a plumber. That's right. We have a plumber protecting us from… pic.twitter.com/KT81mBIUOV
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) March 25, 2026
The irony is apparently lost on Kimmel: while he spent his youth chasing laughs in the entertainment industry, Mullin was overcoming actual adversity. Born with a clubfoot that required multiple surgeries, Mullin eventually earned a wrestling scholarship and, at just 20 years old, took over his father’s struggling plumbing business. He didn’t just “fix pipes”; he built one of the largest service companies in the region, illustrating the exact kind of American grit and managerial competence that is foreign to the halls of ABC.
Mullin isn’t just a “plumber,” though that is an honorable profession Kimmel clearly views as a punchline. He is a former five-term congressman, a U.S. senator, and an undefeated professional fighter.
This isn’t Kimmel’s first foray into elitist snobbery. Whether he is mocking Melania Trump’s accent, suggesting that unvaccinated Americans should “rest in peace, wheezy,” or dismissing the struggles of rural workers during government shutdowns, Kimmel’s track record is one of consistent disdain for the working class.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) hit the nail on the head, responding to the monologue by noting, “I prefer plumbers to woke and unfunny comedians.”
I prefer plumbers to woke & unfunny comedians. https://t.co/3nUseOoluy
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 25, 2026
Indeed, for the millions of Americans who actually work with their hands to keep this country running, Kimmel’s “Super Mario” routine isn’t just unfunny — it’s a reminder that the Hollywood elite view the backbone of the country as nothing more than a series of low-brow caricatures. While Kimmel plays dress-up for a living, men like Mullin are actually prepared to do the heavy lifting.
Why it matters: This incident underscores the cultural divide between political elites and working-class Americans. The mockery of Mullin's background reflects broader societal attitudes towards blue-collar professions and the qualifications necessary for political leadership.
What to watch:
Public reactions to Kimmel's comments and their impact on Mullin's political standing.
Further developments regarding Mullin's role in the Department of Homeland Security.
Potential responses from other political figures regarding the elitist attitudes displayed by Kimmel.