Jimmy Kimmel defends his Mullin plumber remarks amid Republican backlash
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Comedian Jimmy Kimmel defended his criticism of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who worked as a plumber earlier in his career.
Kimmel’s comments did not sit well with many Republicans, who viewed Kimmel as disparaging plumbers and blue-collar workers. The late-night host addressed the backlash during his show on Thursday.
“Let me be very clear, I’m not upset that the head of Homeland Security used to be a plumber. I’m upset that he’s still not a plumber,” Kimmel said in his opening monologue.
Before becoming Secretary of Homeland Security, Mullin represented Oklahoma in the House and Senate for 13 years. After high school, he went to college on a wrestling scholarship until he was 20 when his father became ill. Mullin and his wife later took over, postponing their college educations. family plumbing business.
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Kimmel said he saw conservative commentators “go crazy on every channel” over his comment and accused them of twisting his words.
“Of course, they decided to twist it to say it was an insult to plumbers, but it wasn’t,” Kimmel said. he said.
“Just like I wouldn’t call in a five-star general to get a mouse out of my toilet, I wouldn’t call in a plumber from Homeland Security. OK? We all have our own areas of expertise.”
Kimmel defended his criticism of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who worked as a plumber earlier in his career. “Let me be very clear, I’m not upset that the head of Homeland Security used to be a plumber. I’m upset that he’s still not a plumber,” Kimmel said in his opening monologue. (Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to Secretary Mullin for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
The controversy began when Kimmel made the initial comments during his show on Tuesday. He specifically addressed Mullin’s past work as a plumber and compared his qualities to those of the Nintendo character in “Super Mario Bros.”
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“Former senator from Oklahoma. Markwayne Mullin was a low-level MMA fighter and plumber before he was elected to the Senate. That’s right. Now we have a plumber protecting us from terrorism. He worked for Super Mario. Why not Markwayne?” Kimmel said.
Senator Markwayne Mullin arrives to testify during his confirmation hearing to become secretary of the Department of Homeland Security at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, on March 18. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
He later suggested that President Donald Trump pick rapper Lil Wayne for Homeland Security, joking about what he called “unqualified” picks. Several Republican lawmakers came to Mullin’s defense online, criticizing Kimmel’s comments as hurtful to working Americans.
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Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., wrote of X: “The disdain that Democrats and Hollywood elites have for working-class Americans and people who step up to do important work for their country is shameful. These people need help.”
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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also responded to X: “I prefer woke plumbers and unfunny comedians.”
Mullin was sworn in as DHS chief on Tuesday following the departure of Kristi Noem. He took on the job during a tumultuous time as lawmakers were weeks away from a DHS shutdown that left many workers, including TSA staff, without pay.
